ISTANBUL: A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck western Turkey late Monday, causing several previously damaged buildings to collapse but resulting in no fatalities, officials said.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake was centered in the town of Sindirgi in Balikesir province, hitting at 10:48 p.m. local time (1948 GMT) at a shallow depth of 5.99 kilometers (3.72 miles). Tremors were felt across Istanbul, Bursa, Manisa, and Izmir, prompting widespread alarm.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said three unoccupied buildings and a two-story shop—already weakened by an earlier tremor—collapsed in Sindirgi. “There are no casualties. Only minor injuries, mainly due to panic,” he told Anadolu Agency.
Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said 22 people were injured after falling or tripping during the quake. Crews were working to restore power after temporary outages.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed sympathy for those affected, saying AFAD and other agencies were conducting field inspections and closely monitoring the situation.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz confirmed that detailed assessments were underway and urged citizens to remain cautious amid continuing aftershocks.
