The Turkish Disaster Management Agency AFAD called the people of the province Hatay not to approach the coasts, warning that there is a risk of rising sea levels after the two strong earthquakes, 6.4 and 5.8 degrees, that occurred today centered on the community of Defne, near Antakya and the town of Samandag respectively.

The vice president of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, argued that there is no cause for concern regarding sea ​​level rise.

The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, occurred at 19:04 (local time) and was felt a great distance away.

Three minutes later it was followed by a 5.8-magnitude tremor, according to AFAD, which expressed fears that sea levels could rise “up to 50 cm».

AFP correspondents said the tremors were also felt in Aleppo, northwest Syria, where panicked residents rushed out of their homes into the street.

A photojournalist said he saw walls of buildings damaged by the large earthquake on February 6 falling.

In Antakia, the earthquake also caused panic among residents. In a square, Ali Mazloum, an 18-year-old Syrian, said he was with AFAD rescuers searching for the bodies of his relatives when the quake struck.

“It took us by surprise, we didn’t know what to do. We grabbed each other and right in front of us the walls started to crumble. We had the impression that the earth would open in the middle and swallow us».

A short distance away, a bulldozer was trying to remove rubble from a boulevard.

“That one just fell offsaid one rescuer, pointing to what was left of a building.

Ali Mazloum, who has lived in Antakia for 12 years, is still searching for the body of his sister and her family.

Turkish authorities have halted rescue operations in all other provinces except Kahramanmaras and Hatay, after hopes of finding survivors 14 days after the quake have faded.