10:01,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Rescuers are once again searching for people trapped under rubble in Turkey after two new earthquakes hit the country, killing at least 6 people.

Tremors of 6.8 and 5.8 magnitude struck in the south-east (Hatay province) near the border with Syria, where massive quakes devastated both countries on 6 February, the BBC reports.

The earlier quakes killed 46,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Buildings weakened by those tremors collapsed in both countries on Monday.

The 6.8 magnitude tremor occurred at 20:04 local time (17:04 GMT), followed by the 5.8 magnitude quake three minutes later.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said three deaths occurred in Antakya, Defne, and Samandag.

Hurriyet later reported that search and rescue teams retrieved three more bodies from the rubble.

According to Anadolu news agency, the quakes were felt in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Israel.

People in Turkey are advised to stay away from damaged buildings.