Greater Middle East (bbabo.net), - An earthquake with an epicenter in Turkey, which occurred tonight, is comparable in its power to the explosion of 130 atomic bombs. This was stated by Turkish scientists.

It is inferior in destructiveness only to the disaster of August 1999, when more than 17 thousand people became victims of the disaster.

“The earthquake was felt in 8-10 provinces. We are talking about a fault with a length of about 180 kilometers, it passed exactly along the line of the East Anatolian fault. This is the most powerful earthquake since the one that happened on August 17, 1999,” Director of the Kandilli Observatory of Bogazici University and the Institute of Seismic Research Professor Haluk Ozener told DHA.

He warned that aftershocks could continue for quite a long time and urged not to enter buildings damaged by the earthquake.

Another Turkish geophysicist, Ahmet Ercan, told the Duvar newspaper that aftershocks could last 2-3 years.

“The power of an earthquake is similar to the power of 130 atomic bombs,” Ercan said.

He ruled out the possibility of an earthquake in the Sea of Marmara region in the near future, but, as world agencies have just reported, a new earthquake of magnitude 7.8 was recorded in central Turkey. Also, new tremors are felt in Damascus, the province of Latakia and other cities in Syria, as well as in Lebanese Beirut.

In Turkey, the earthquake is felt in Samsun, Adana, Çorum and other cities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 912 dead and 5,385 wounded are known so far.

bbabo.ℵet