A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Sindirgi in western Turkey on Sunday, according to the Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD). The tremor killed at least one person and injured dozens more.
Tremors Felt Across Major Cities
The quake shook several cities in western Turkey, including Istanbul and the tourist city of Izmir. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, “An 81-year-old person died soon after having been rescued from under the rubble” in Sindirgi, the quake’s epicentre.
Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Turkey, confirms German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
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Buildings Collapse in the Epicentre
The minister confirmed that 29 people suffered injuries, though none were serious. The quake destroyed 16 buildings in Sindirgi and nearby areas. Four of these were occupied, including a three-storey building in the city centre.
Rescue Operations Underway
Six people had been living in the collapsed building. Several were rescued alive, but one victim died after being pulled out. Earlier, Mayor Serkan Sak told private channel NTV, “Four were rescued from the rubble,” adding that rescue efforts for two more were still ongoing.
Large-Scale Emergency Response
AFAD reported that 319 first responders were deployed to the affected zone. The earthquake struck at 7:53 pm (1653 GMT), followed by about 20 aftershocks measuring between 3.5 and 4.6 in magnitude.
Turkey’s History of Deadly Quakes
Turkey lies on multiple geological fault lines, making it prone to destructive earthquakes. In February 2023, a massive quake in the southwest killed at least 53,000 people and devastated Antakya, the site of the ancient city of Antioch. More recently, in early July, a 5.8-magnitude tremor in the same region killed one person and injured 69 others.