One person has died in Turkey after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening. The earthquake, which hit around 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), had its epicenter in the town of Sindirgi, where an 81-year-old woman succumbed shortly after being rescued from the rubble, as confirmed by Turkey's interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya. In the aftermath, 16 buildings were reported to have collapsed, leaving 29 individuals injured.
The tremors were felt across the region, with residents in Istanbul also experiencing the quake’s effects. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the situation, expressing his hopes for a speedy recovery for those impacted and assuring that recovery efforts were being closely monitored. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster," he remarked on X.
Search and rescue operations have concluded, with authorities reporting no further signs of severe damage or casualties. However, images emerging from Sindirgi depict extensive destruction, with numerous structures reduced to debris and twisted metal.
Turkey is situated at the convergence of three significant tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent seismic occurrences. This recent quake follows a tragic event in February 2023 when more than 50,000 lives were lost due to a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that affected the country’s south-eastern region, with an additional 5,000 fatalities in neighboring Syria. Over two years later, many remain displaced from that disaster.
The tremors were felt across the region, with residents in Istanbul also experiencing the quake’s effects. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the situation, expressing his hopes for a speedy recovery for those impacted and assuring that recovery efforts were being closely monitored. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster," he remarked on X.
Search and rescue operations have concluded, with authorities reporting no further signs of severe damage or casualties. However, images emerging from Sindirgi depict extensive destruction, with numerous structures reduced to debris and twisted metal.
Turkey is situated at the convergence of three significant tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent seismic occurrences. This recent quake follows a tragic event in February 2023 when more than 50,000 lives were lost due to a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that affected the country’s south-eastern region, with an additional 5,000 fatalities in neighboring Syria. Over two years later, many remain displaced from that disaster.
