Fresh quake hits Turkey-Syria two weeks after deadly tremors

Just two weeks after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey, two more earthquakes hit Turkey-Syria Border region on Monday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

The earthquakes were reported in Turkey's Southern Hatay province within a short span of three minutes. "Today a Magnitude 6.4 #earthquake (#deprem) hit #Antioch (#Turkey) at 20:04:29 local time (UTC 17:04:29). Shaking was felt over 400km by approximately 30M people in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Syrian Arab Republic and Israel," EMSC quake tweeted. Another earthquake was reported in Samandag with 5.8 magnitudes, as per Anadolu Agency.

At least eight people were injured in Turkey's Hatay Province, reports Anadolu news agency citing Turkish Vice-President.

Six people have been injured in Aleppo from falling debris after the earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border, reports AP citing Syria's SANA news agency.

Two Reuters witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antakya, where it was centered. It was also felt in Egypt and Lebanon, Reuters reporters said.

Other witnesses said Turkish rescue teams were running around after the latest quake, checking people were unharmed.

Muna Al Omar, a resident, said she was in a tent in a park in central Antakya when the earthquake hit. "I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet," she said, crying as she held her 7-year-old son in her arms. "Is there going to be another aftershock?" she asked.

It comes at a time when the Turkish government is engaged in a major rescue and search operation in two provinces to save the lives of victims under the rubble of buildings after a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 shook Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing over 46,000 people.

Millions of people who survived the quake need humanitarian aid, authorities say, with many survivors left homeless in near-freezing winter temperatures. Rescues are now few and far between.

According to Turkey's Anadolu Agency citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), one of the quakes occurred at around 20.04 pm, local time (1704GMT) in the Defence district of Hatay, with a magnitude of 6.4, while the other quake with a magnitude of 5.8 hit the country three minutes later, with its epicentre being in Hatay's Samandag province.

The first quake took place at a depth of 16.7 kilometres (10.4 miles), while the second one was at a depth of 7 km (4.3 mi). Both were felt in surrounding areas. The quakes of two weeks ago, though centred in Kahramanmaras, 100 kilometres or more from Hatay, caused extensive damage in Hatay, reported Anadolu Agency.

With inputs from agencies