One person has lost their life and several others are injured following a powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Turkey's Balikesir province on Sunday evening. The tremor, which occurred around 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), had its epicenter in the town of Sindirgi, where an 81-year-old woman tragically died shortly after being rescued from the rubble, according to Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The earthquake resulted in the collapse of sixteen buildings, with reports indicating that 29 individuals sustained injuries. The quake was felt across a wide area, including major cities like Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and called for a swift recovery for all affected, emphasizing that the government's recovery efforts are being diligently observed.
Search and rescue operations have since concluded, with the interior minister reporting no further indications of severe damage or casualties. Photographs from Sindirgi depict devastated structures reduced to rubble, alongside heaps of shattered metal and debris.
Turkey's geographical position, resting atop three significant tectonic plates, subjects it to frequent seismic events. The recent quake strikes a painful note as the nation continues to heal from a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that claimed over 50,000 lives in February 2023, displacing countless others across the region.
The earthquake resulted in the collapse of sixteen buildings, with reports indicating that 29 individuals sustained injuries. The quake was felt across a wide area, including major cities like Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and called for a swift recovery for all affected, emphasizing that the government's recovery efforts are being diligently observed.
Search and rescue operations have since concluded, with the interior minister reporting no further indications of severe damage or casualties. Photographs from Sindirgi depict devastated structures reduced to rubble, alongside heaps of shattered metal and debris.
Turkey's geographical position, resting atop three significant tectonic plates, subjects it to frequent seismic events. The recent quake strikes a painful note as the nation continues to heal from a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that claimed over 50,000 lives in February 2023, displacing countless others across the region.
