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2 more large earthquakes hit southern Turkey, killing 3

By Jonna Lorenz
U.S. members of Humane Society International rescue a dog with five puppies from the rubble on the same day a powerful earthquake struck Hatay, Turkey, on Monday. More than 45,000 people have died and thousands more are injured after two major earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA-EFE
1 of 2 | U.S. members of Humane Society International rescue a dog with five puppies from the rubble on the same day a powerful earthquake struck Hatay, Turkey, on Monday. More than 45,000 people have died and thousands more are injured after two major earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. Photo by Erdem Sahin/EPA-EFE

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Two more large earthquakes struck southern Turkey in the Hatay province near the Syrian border, killing three people on Monday, just two weeks after two larger earthquakes in the region killed tens of thousands of people.

Monday's earthquakes were measured at 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said on Twitter.

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The first earthquake struck at about 8:04 p.m. local time in the Defne district of Hatay and was followed about 3 minutes later by the smaller temblor in Samandag province, according to Anadolu Agency, Turkey's state-run news agency. The earthquakes were reported at depths of 10.4 miles and 4.3 miles respectively.

The disaster agency said teams were on alert and urged residents to stay away from the coastlines to avoid the risk of rising sea levels and to stay away from damaged structures.

The mayor of Samandag reported some collapsed buildings and panicked residents, according to CNN.

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The U.S. Geological Survey revised its report of Monday's initial earthquake down to 6.3 magnitude from 6.4.

More than 680 people were injured in Turkey and Syria, BBC reports. They were discovered in Antakya, Defne and Samandagi, according to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.

On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude struck Turkey and Syria, followed by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Those temblors were in Kahramanmaras, about 62 miles from Hatay, but the damage extended to Hatay.

On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the site of the earthquakes and announced $100 million in funds for Turkey and Syria.

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