Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Strikes Central Turkey, No Damage Reported

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck central Turkey early Friday near Niksar in Tokat province at a shallow depth of 6.4 kilometers. The tremor, felt across several provinces, prompted residents to evacuate homes and wait outdoors despite cold weather. Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management agency reported no damage or casualties. The country, located on major fault lines, frequently experiences earthquakes, including a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake in 2023 that caused significant loss of life and property in Turkey and neighboring Syria.