6.2 Magnitude earthquake rattles Istanbul, injuring over 150

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Istanbul on Wednesday, sending residents into a panic and resulting in more than 150 injuries, though no fatalities have been reported.

The tremor occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time in the Sea of Marmara, near Silivri, approximately 70 kilometers west of Istanbul, according to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD). The quake had a shallow depth of about 7 to 10 kilometers.

"The quake lasted a total of 13 seconds," stated Turkiye's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who noted that 51 aftershocks have been recorded, with the largest measuring 5.9 in magnitude. "Let’s not let down our guard against possible aftershocks," he cautioned on social media.

Authorities in Istanbul confirmed that 151 individuals were injured due to panic and jumping from heights, with the governor's office reporting that their treatments are ongoing in hospitals, and none are in life-threatening condition.

Residents described moments of intense shaking and confusion as buildings trembled throughout the city. Many reported being thrown off balance and initially struggling to comprehend the unfolding disaster.

The sudden nature of the event left people disoriented before they realized they were experiencing an earthquake. One abandoned building in the historic Fatih district partially collapsed, but no residential structures suffered significant damage.

Daily life was disrupted as people evacuated buildings and gathered in parks, schoolyards, and other open spaces. Some residents even set up tents in parks, fearing to return to their homes.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the public, expressing gratitude that there appeared to be no severe issues. "May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents, and troubles," he said.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed that initial inspections revealed no damage to highways, airports, trains, or subways.

This earthquake has revived fears among Istanbul’s 16 million residents, who live in a seismically active region. Turkiye is situated at the convergence of three tectonic plates—the Eurasian, Arabian, and African—rendering it particularly vulnerable to seismic activity.

This tremor serves as a stark reminder of Turkiye's deadliest modern earthquake, which struck in February 2023, killing over 50,000 people in southern Turkiye and northern Syria. It also evokes memories of the 1999 quake near Istanbul that claimed 17,000 lives.

Turkish seismologists have long warned that Istanbul is overdue for a major earthquake, citing a historical pattern of significant seismic events occurring approximately every 250 years, with the last major quake recorded in 1766.

In response to ongoing concerns, both national and local governments have initiated urban reconstruction projects aimed at reinforcing at-risk buildings and demolishing structures deemed unsafe.