A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Sindirgi in western Turkey on Sunday evening, according to the Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD). The tremor, which hit at 7:53 p.m. local time (1653 GMT), was felt across several cities, including Istanbul and the popular tourist destination of Izmir.
Turkish media reported that several buildings collapsed in Balikesir province, with images showing significant damage. Just minutes after the main quake, a 4.6-magnitude aftershock rattled the region.
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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X that AFAD teams and other relevant agencies had “immediately begun searches on the ground” and, so far, no “undesirable events” — such as confirmed casualties — had been reported.
Turkey lies on multiple active fault lines, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes. In February 2023, a catastrophic quake in the country’s southwest killed at least 53,000 people and devastated the ancient city of Antakya. More recently, a 5.8-magnitude tremor in July claimed one life and injured 69 others in the same region.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as emergency crews assess potential damage and ensure the safety of residents in affected areas.
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