Turkish Disasters' Agency: Monday's Earthquake Emitted Equivalent to Energy of 500 Atomic Bombs

The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said that its experts did not notice a flow of lava, volcanic ash, or a flow of oil and gas in the earthquake area." The administration revealed, in a statement, that the first earthquake of 7.7 degrees lasted 65 seconds, and the duration of the second earthquake was 45 seconds, and as they occurred, the region shook seriously for about two minutes.

According to official media, the director general of earthquake risk reduction in the Turkish agency (known also as AVAD) said: The energy emitted from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake is equivalent to the energy of 500 atomic bombs.

For its part, the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Reconstruction announced the repair of 80% of the drinking water infrastructure in the provinces affected by the earthquake.

The Turkish Emergency and Disaster Management Department announced that the number of victims of the earthquake that struck the country last week had risen to 20,665, and the number of injured to 80,088.

The Turkish administration said in a statement today, Saturday, that 92,697 people had been evacuated from the affected areas, and the administration recorded an aftershock of 4 degrees on the Richter scale, with its centre in Kahraman Marash, southern Turkey.