Strong Earthquake Strikes Istanbul, No Major Damage Reported
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Istanbul, April 23 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul on Wednesday, according to Turkey’s AFAD disaster agency, causing buildings to shake and prompting residents across the city to evacuate. It is one of the strongest quakes to affect the city of over 16 million people in recent years.
The quake occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time (0949 GMT), with its epicentre located in Silivri, approximately 80 kilometres west of Istanbul, at a depth of 6.92 kilometres, AFAD said. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported a slightly lower magnitude of 6.02, at a depth of 10 kilometres.
There were no immediate reports of significant damage, but the tremor caused panic in several neighbourhoods. Residents fled buildings and gathered in open spaces, while some shops in central Istanbul shut their doors. Witnesses reported seeing people sitting on doorsteps, waiting in parks, and avoiding re-entering homes amid concerns of aftershocks.
Local broadcaster TGRT reported that one person was injured after jumping off a balcony in fear during the quake. The incident occurred during a public holiday in Turkey, when many people were at home.
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that initial inspections revealed no damage or disruption to the country’s highways, airports, railways, or metro systems. The Governor’s Office of Istanbul confirmed that there were no reports of building collapses and urged the public to remain calm and to avoid approaching structures that could have been compromised.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was closely monitoring the situation and shared safety guidance on X, formerly Twitter, as aftershocks continued to be felt in the region.
The earthquake revived memories of past disasters, including the February 2023 earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria that killed over 55,000 people and injured more than 107,000, as well as the 1999 Izmit earthquake near Istanbul, which claimed more than 17,000 lives.
Authorities remain on alert as seismic activity continues, and the public has been advised to follow official guidance and refrain from spreading unverified information.
