One person was killed on Sunday when an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck Turkey’s north-western Balikesir province, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that 29 people were injured and 16 buildings collapsed.
The quake, which Turkey’s AFAD disaster management authority said occurred at around 7:53 p.m., was felt in multiple provinces, including the country’s largest city, Istanbul.
Yerlikaya said an 81-year-old person died after being rescued from rubble by emergency teams. He said search and rescue operations had now concluded and that there were no further indications of serious damage or casualties.
AFAD reported the earthquake struck at a depth of 11 km (6.8 miles), while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) measured the magnitude at 6.19 and a depth of 10 km.
According to AFAD, a total of seven aftershocks with a magnitude above 3.0 have occurred since the initial tremor. The shocks were felt in neighbouring provinces including Manisa, Izmir, Usak and Bursa.
Yerlikaya said a total of 16 buildings collapsed in the region — most of them derelict and unused. Two mosque minarets also tumbled down.
AFAD said it had activated the Turkey Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) and dispatched personnel and vehicles from various provincial directorates to support search and rescue efforts.
The affected areas are being closely monitored, and representatives of all disaster groups will gather at the AFAD Presidency Disaster and Emergency Management Centre.
Field surveys are continuing. Personnel and vehicles have been sent from the AFAD Provincial Directorates of Çanakkale, Izmir, Afyonkarahisar, Usak, Bursa, Sakarya, Kutahya, Bilecik, Manisa and Kocaeli to assist with operations.
Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Follow us
