Türkiye, Turkish Cypriots to hold nationwide earthquake drill

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will hold a nationwide drill on Saturday, marking the 23rd anniversary of the Duzce earthquake.

On Nov. 12, 1999, the city of Duzce was rocked by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake which lasted 30 seconds, killing 710 people and injuring 2,679 others.

The Earthquake Moment Country Exercise will begin at 6:57 p.m. local time (1557 GMT) under the coordination of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will give a speech before the start of the exercise.

Duzce earthquake came after the Aug. 17, 1999 earthquake which hit Türkiye's northwestern city of Izmit, and killed 18,373 people and injured 23,781 with its 7.6 magnitude, according to official figures from AFAD.