By Christian George
Yet to recover from the previous earth quake that claimed about 48,000 lives and rendered thousands homeless, death toll in the new quake reaches eight.
According to AP, Turkey’s disaster management authority said six people were killed and 294 others were injured with 18 in critical condition after Monday’s 6.4-magnitude quake.
In Syria, a woman and a girl died as a result of panic during the earthquake in the provinces of Hama and Tartus, pro-government media outlets said on Tuesday.
The new quake hit in the town of Defne, Turkey’s Hatay province, which borders Syria.
The effect was felt in Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and as far away as Egypt, and followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor, and dozens of aftershocks.
In the month of February alone Hatay has witnessed two earth quakes.
It is one of the worst-hit provinces in Turkey in the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck on Feb. 6. Thousands of buildings were destroyed in the province and Monday’s quake further damaged buildings. The governor’s office in Antakya, Hatay’s historic heart, was also damaged.
However, officials had warned survivors not to go into the remains of their homes but a few who flouted the instruction were caught in the new quake.
