Strong earthquake Strikes Istanbul

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkiye’s AFAD disaster agency said, one of the strongest quakes to strike the city of 16 million in recent years.

According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences, the quake hit at 12:49 local time, with its epicenter near Silivri, around 80 kilometres west of Istanbul, at a shallow depth of 6.92 kilometres, as reported by Turkey’s disaster agency AFAD.The tremor shook buildings across the city, prompting people to evacuate homes, offices, and shops, especially on the European side of Istanbul.

Many gathered in open areas, parks, and streets while aftershocks continued. Several shops closed temporarily out of caution.Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed that early inspections showed no damage to roads, airports, railways, or subway systems.

The Istanbul governor’s office stated there were no reports of collapsed buildings and urged citizens to remain calm and avoid potentially unsafe structures.

One person was reported injured after jumping from a balcony during the quake, broadcaster TGRT reported. President Tayyip Erdogan said he was closely monitoring the situation and shared safety guidelines on social media to help people prepare for possible aftershocks.

This tremor revived traumatic memories of past disasters, including the deadly 1999 earthquake near Istanbul that killed 17000 people, and the 2023 earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria that left over 55000 dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

While no serious damage has been reported this time, the quake served as a stark reminder of Turkey’s vulnerability to seismic activity. Emergency services remain alert, and citizens have been asked to follow official updates and stay cautious.