5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Turkish Mediterranean coast, injuring 7 people
The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said the earthquake was centered in the Mediterranean Sea and struck at 02:17 a.m. It was felt in neighboring regions, including in the Greek island of Rhodes, waking many from their sleep, Turkiye's NTV television reported.
Marmaris' governor, Idris Akbiyik, told the station that seven people were being treated for injuries after jumping from windows or balconies in panic but there was no immediate report of any serious damage.
Turkiye sits on top of major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent.
In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkiye and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan weather office warns of heavy rains as Punjab issues urban flooding alert
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy monsoon rains in the upper catchments of major rivers over the next 48 hours, while Punjab's disaster management authority warned of possible urban flooding in several cities. The PMD said the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala is expected to rise to low flood levels during the period, while the Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad, along with the nullahs of the Ravi, could reach medium to high flows in the next 24 hours. Scattered thunderstorms and rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy downpours are likely over the upper catchments of the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers, as well as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Zhob and DG Khan divisions. Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) separately issued an alert for the seventh spell of the monsoon from Aug. 13-15, predicting heavy rains in most districts, particularly Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and DG Khan. 'There is a risk of urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sialkot, as well as flash flooding in riverside nullahs due to heavy rains,' PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said in an alert, adding that possible landslides in Murree and Galiyat and damage to vulnerable buildings could not be ruled out. The PDMA also directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain alert and ensure civil defense, rescue and other relevant agencies complete advance preparations. It urged the public to follow safety guidelines, avoid unnecessary travel and, in case of urban or flash flooding, remain in safe areas and never attempt to cross flowing water. ADVANCE MONSOON ALERTS Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for advance alerts for residents in areas vulnerable during the monsoon season, following deadly mudslides in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). One of Pakistan's most popular tourist destinations, GB is home to some of the world's tallest peaks, glaciers and fast-running streams. Despite its strategic location as Pakistan's only land route to China, however, the region's limited infrastructure leaves it vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods and landslides, underscoring the need for stronger disaster management measures. In a meeting with the prime minister, the top National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official, Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, briefed on progress 'toward making the early warning system in Gilgit-Baltistan fully operational and enhancing cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change in this regard,' according to a PM Office statement. 'The NDMA should further strengthen its coordination with the provinces for assistance and rehabilitation of victims of the recent rains and flooding,' Sharif was quoted as saying during the meeting. 'People in vulnerable areas must be given advance alerts in view of weather conditions and possible emergencies,' he added. According to the NDMA, seven people were killed and six injured in a mudslide in Gilgit's Danyore Nullah area over the weekend. The monsoon season, which began on June 26, has so far claimed 312 lives and injured 740 people nationwide.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Wildfires in Spain kill one and force thousands to flee
MADRID: A man died from burns and thousands of people were forced to flee as wildfires swept through parts of Spain on Tuesday, fueled by strong winds during a searing heatwave. The victim suffered serious burns as winds of up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour whipped the flames through Tres Cantos, a wealthy suburb north of the capital Madrid, officials said. He later died in hospital, in the first fatality from dozens of wildfires to have hit the country since the heatwave began last week. The head of the regional government of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, said she 'deeply regretted' the man's death in a message on X. Hundreds of residents in Tres Cantos were evacuated from their homes. 'In barely 40 minutes, the fire advanced six kilometers,' Carlos Novillo, Madrid's regional environment chief, told reporters. By Tuesday morning, regional officials said the blaze had been contained. Elsewhere, about 2,000 people were evacuated from hotels and homes near the popular beaches of Tarifa in the southern region of Andalusia. The wildfire broke out near where a similar blaze forced evacuations earlier this month. 'We managed to save the residential area at the very last second,' said Antonio Sanz, the interior minister in the regional government of Andalusia. A Civil Guard police officer was injured when struck by a car while helping with the evacuation, he added. In the northwestern region of Castile and Leon, more than 30 blazes were reported Monday, including one threatening Las Medulas, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient Roman gold mines. The wildfires coincide with what meteorologists expect to be the most intense day yet of the ongoing heatwave, with all regions under weather alerts. Forecasters warn of highs around 40 Celsius and overnight lows that remain above 25 Celsius.
Al Arabiya
14 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Magnitude of earthquake in Indonesia's West Papua revised higher to 6.5
An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck Indonesia's West Papua region on Tuesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said, revising the figure higher from an earlier estimate of 6.1 magnitude. The quake was at a depth of 17 km (10.56 miles), it added.
