Two huge new earthquakes have hit the Turkey-Syria border.
The first, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday, comes just two weeks after a devastating quake in the region left more than 40,000 people dead and millions displaced.
It was followed minutes later by a 5.8-magnitude quake, said Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.
It said: “According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), one of the quakes took place at around 8.04 p.m. local time in the Defne district of Hatay, with a magnitude of 6.4, while the other took place three minutes later, with the epicentre in Hatay’s Samandag province, with a magnitude of 5.8.
“The first quake took place at a depth of 16.7 kilometres (10.4 miles), while the second was at a depth of 7 km (4.3 miles).”
The quakes hit Turkey’s Hatay region, which has been left in desperate need of international aid following devastating tremors and their aftermath on February 6.
6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Turkey-Syria border
The World Health Organisation says 26m people need assistance in Turkey and Syria following the initial quakes.
The latest earthquakes threaten to bring more devastation to a region already struck by mass homelessness, destruction and disarray.
Turkey’s disaster response agency, AFAD, reported that the new tremors struck in the town of Defne at 8.04pm local time.
Almost as strong as the 7.8-magnitude quake that was reported on February 6, it was felt in Turkish towns of Antakya and Adana, 200km away, as well as across the border in neighbouring Syria.
More than 6,000 aftershocks have been recorded in the past two weeks, but the 6.4-magnitude reported on Monday is said to be the most significant.
Reports said the tremors were also felt in Lebanon.
Witnesses to the most recent quake reported further damage to buildings and widespread panic and distress in Antakya.
Makeshift medical facilities are already overwhelmed in Turkey and Syria, with international aid unable to cope with the demand following the February 6 earthquakes.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay called on citizens in the region to stay away from damaged buildings as authorities scan the affected areas.
The latest tremors are likely to put yet more strain on countries in urgent need of help to deal with the devastation. The World Health Organisation launched the largest rescue operation in its history to try and save people stranded underneath fallen buildings.
A major aid operation has seen countries across the Middle East offer humanitarian support to both Syria and Turkey. Last week UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the provision of an additional $50m as relief aid for quake-affected people in Syria.
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