5.5-magnitude quake jolts northern Türkiye

TOKAT

5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the northern province of Tokat's Niksar district  at 3:35 a.m. on March 13, shaking several nearby provinces and sending residents into the streets, while officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the quake occurred at a depth of 6.37 kilometers and was felt in Samsun, Amasya, Ordu and Sivas along with Tokat. AFAD said field screening work was continuing and that no adverse developments had been reported in the immediate aftermath.

Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said there had been no negative reports so far and that teams were continuing assessment work on the ground. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said initial checks showed no disruption to transportation or communications infrastructure.

Tokat authorities later suspended education across the province for one day as a precaution. 

Many residents waited in cars or outdoors despite the cold, with lingering public anxiety, in a country frequently hit by earthquakes because of its active fault lines.