Rabat — A powerful earthquake of 6.1 magnitude struck off western Turkiye on Sunday evening, sending tremors across multiple provinces near Istanbul, the country’s largest city.
Tyrkiye’s disaster management authority (AFAD) reported that the earthquake hit Balikesir province at 7:53 p.m. Istanbul’s local time.
AFAD also reported that the earthquake struck just 10 kilometers below the surface, according to German Research Centre for Geosciences(GFZ).
People felt the tremors throughout several provinces surrounding the epicenter, with authorities reporting no deaths or significant damage.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X that emergency response teams immediately began conducting safety inspections across Istanbul and neighboring areas.
Yerlikaya reassured worried residents and prayed to God to “protect our country and our nation from disasters.”
He added that “a building collapsed in our Sındırgı district. Two citizens inside the building were rescued, and rescue efforts for two more are ongoing.”
Turkiye sits on major fault lines that make it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The country has experienced devastating earthquakes in recent years.
In April this year, a similar earthquake of 6.2 magnitude hit the country’s capital, leaving more than 150 injuries, though no fatalities have been reported
Emergency teams continue monitoring the situation across the affected region as authorities assess any potential aftershocks or delayed damage reports.
