The earthuake hit the town of Sivrice, Elazig province, which also affected other cities. According to the rubble, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the majority of the victims were killed were in Elazig province, with at least 4 victims in neighboring Malatya province, and 1,607 injured. The earthquake also caused nearly 80 buildings to collapse while 645 buildings were badly damaged in these two provinces. Rescue workers continue recovering victims buried under the rubble. According to AFAD, a total of 45 people have been rescued.

Turkey is located on a major fault line on the surface of the Earth and is very prone to earthquakes. In 1999, a 7.4 earthquake rocked the Izmit region in western Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people, including 1,000 people in Istanbul.