For a bit of background & context, it looks like Syria and Turkey border on the intersection of a few significant fault lines. There were quakes in 2003 and 2010 but of much lower severity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Anatolian_Fault#/media/Fi...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Anatolian_Fault

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Bing%C3%B6l_earthquake

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Elaz%C4%B1%C4%9F_earthqua...