A sequence of earthquakes together with a 6.2-magnitude tremor have struck close to Istanbul, shaking buildings and prompting individuals to flee condo blocks.
At the very least 151 individuals have been injured leaping from excessive locations, the governor of Turkey’s largest metropolis mentioned on X. There had been no reported deaths.
The biggest earthquake on Wednesday struck at 12:49 native time (09:49 GMT) at a depth of 6.92 km (4.3 miles), Turkey’s emergency companies mentioned.
The epicentre of the 6.2-magnitude tremor was situated alongside the coast of the Sea of Marmara, within the Silivri space about 80 km (50 miles) west of Istanbul. Metropolis authorities mentioned greater than 50 aftershocks had been recorded within the hours since.
Residents reported the primary earthquake as one of many strongest that they had felt in years.
Authorities mentioned an deserted constructing within the Fatih district on the European facet of town had collapsed.
Vitality and fuel provides, ingesting water and sewerage infrastructure have been unaffected, it added in a submit on X.
Faculties are to shut on Thursday and Friday, Training Minister Yusuf Tekin mentioned. He added that faculty backyard areas would stay open to be used as protected areas.
Selva Demiralp, an economics professor at Koç College, advised the BBC she was together with her household in a high-rise when the earthquake struck and it was “fairly scary”.
“One way or the other, within the midst of the earthquake, we felt a deep sense of consolation—as a result of the entire household was collectively,” she mentioned.
“We’re protected, it seems to be there was no harm in buildings,” she mentioned. However she added that folks have been nervous about whether or not the quake “was a foreshock itself” and the “actual one is on its manner”.
Southern Turkey was devastated by two large earthquakes in 2023, which killed greater than 55,000 individuals.
Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous metropolis and residential to 16 million individuals – a fifth of the nation’s residents. The town lies 20km to the north of the North Anatolian Fault Line.
Further reporting by Mallory Moench
