A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening, resulting in one confirmed fatality and multiple injuries. An 81-year-old woman died shortly after being rescued from the rubble in Sindirgi, the epicenter of the quake. Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that sixteen buildings collapsed and 29 others sustained injuries as a result of the tremor.
The earthquake was recorded at approximately 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT) and was felt as far as Istanbul. In response to the disaster, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and wishes for a swift recovery for those affected, assuring the public that recovery efforts were underway and closely monitored. “May God protect our country from any kind of disaster,” he stated on the social media platform X.
Search and rescue operations have been concluded, with no further serious damage or casualties reported according to officials. However, images from Sindirgi depict demolished buildings and immense debris, highlighting the quake's destructive impact.
Turkey's geological position places it at the convergence of three major tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes. This latest incident follows a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in February 2023, which resulted in over 50,000 casualties, alongside thousands more in neighboring Syria. Even now, hundreds of thousands remain displaced from that tragedy.
