ISTANBUL: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul on Wednesday, according to Turkiye’s AFAD disaster agency, marking one of the strongest tremors to hit the city in recent years.
The quake struck at 12:49pm local time (2:49pm PKT), with its epicentre near Silivri, approximately 80 kilometers west of Istanbul. AFAD reported the quake occurred at a depth of 6.92 kilometers. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), however, measured the quake at a magnitude of 6.02 with a depth of 10 kilometers.
Though no major damage was immediately reported, the tremor caused widespread panic, with residents evacuating buildings across the city, which straddles both Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus Strait.
Broadcaster TGRT reported one injury — a person who jumped off a balcony in fear during the tremor. The incident occurred during a national public holiday, contributing to relatively lighter city activity at the time.
AFAD has urged residents to avoid entering any potentially damaged structures until thorough inspections are completed. Emergency services remain on high alert as aftershocks are expected.
Turkiye sits on active fault lines and is prone to seismic activity, with Istanbul considered particularly vulnerable.
