On Sunday, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 struck the Marmara region in northwestern Turkey, causing significant damage and resulting in at least one death and six injuries. The tremor led to the collapse of several buildings, amplifying concerns in the affected areas.

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Report on Preliminary Damage From the 6.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Türkiye

The mayor of Balikesir, Ahmet Akin, told local media that an unidentified man lost his life after being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. The earthquake occurred at 7:53 p.m. local time (16:53 GMT), with its epicenter located in the Sindirgi district of Balikesir province, at a depth of 11 kilometers, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

The earthquake was felt over a wide area, including major cities such as Istanbul—home to over 16 million people and located more than 200 kilometers from the epicenter—as well as Izmir, Bursa, and Kocaeli.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told Turkish news channel NTV that five people, including an elderly woman, were rescued alive from a collapsed building in Sindirgi. Rescue teams were still working to reach another person believed to be trapped under the debris.

Earlier, Sindirgi’s mayor Serkan Sak reported that a total of ten buildings had collapsed within his municipality. He also mentioned numerous demolitions in various neighborhoods, although information about all affected locations was not yet available.

Currently, four injured individuals have been hospitalized, none with life-threatening conditions, as confirmed by both the Interior Minister and Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu.

AFAD reported that twenty aftershocks have occurred so far, five of which measured over a magnitude of 4.0. The agency stated that 319 emergency personnel and 79 vehicles have been deployed for search and rescue operations. Emergency call centers have received 24 damage reports, and assessments are ongoing.

The earthquake caused widespread panic, with many people across several cities rushing into the streets. Istanbul’s governor, Davut Gul, stated that no problems had been reported in the city so far, although further damage assessments were still underway.

Turkey’s Marmara region has a long history of destructive earthquakes. Notably, on August 17, 1999, a magnitude 7.5 quake devastated the area, killing around 19,000 people and injuring 50,000 more.

This recent seismic event underscores Turkey’s ongoing vulnerability to earthquakes due to its location on active fault lines, highlighting the importance of preparedness and swift emergency response in mitigating the impact on affected communities.

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