ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Sindirgi district in Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province near Istanbul late Sunday, Turkish authorities reported.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Sindirgi district in Turkey’s Balikesir province near Istanbul late Sunday, according to Turkish authorities.
IIn a statement on X, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that “a 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in Sindirgi, Balikesir,” adding that it “was also felt in Istanbul and surrounding provinces.”
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and other relevant institutions “immediately began field surveys,” Yerlikaya noted, elaborating that “as of now, no adverse situations have been reported.”
“We are monitoring the situation moment by moment,” he concluded.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 11 kilometers and was felt across several major cities in western Turkey, including Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir.
In addition to causing widespread alarm, the tremor also resulted in some structural damage.
Local reports indicate that around a dozen buildings - including a mosque minaret - collapsed in Sindirgi and the nearby village of Golcuk. Emergency crews rescued several individuals trapped under debris from one of the collapsed structures.
Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and prepare for possible aftershocks.
Turkey is highly prone to seismic activity due to its location at the intersection of the Anatolian, Eurasian, and Arabian tectonic plates - making powerful earthquakes a persistent risk across the region.
The most catastrophic was the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in February 2023, which, along with a powerful 7.7 aftershock, devastated southern and central Turkey, resulting in over 53,500 deaths in the country.
