International

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits north-east Turkey

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled north-east Turkey on Friday, the country's disaster management agency said.

The tremor hit around 3:35 am (0035 GMT) in Tokat province, with no reports of damage, the Turkish disaster and emergency management authority said.

The agency added it was continuing to assess the situation.

The governor of Tokat announced that schools would be closed on Friday.

Turkey is crisscrossed by several geological fault lines which have previously caused catastrophes in the country.

A quake in February 2023 in the southwest killed at least 53,000 people and devastated Antakya, site of the ancient city of Antioch.

Source: AFP