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Powerful earthquake shakes western Turkey, damages reported in Sındırgı
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck western Turkey late Monday, rattling cities such as İstanbul and İzmir, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The quake, which occurred at 10:48 p.m. local time (1948 GMT), was centered near the hillside town of Sındırgı, where reports of structural damage have emerged.
According to the private Demirören news agency (DHA), at least one house collapsed in Sındırgı, while several other buildings sustained damage. Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the area, announced Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. "Following the earthquake, which was also felt in surrounding regions, AFAD and all of its teams have begun working on the ground," he stated.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties. However, the tremor rekindled fears in a country highly vulnerable to seismic activity. Just last August, an earthquake of the same magnitude in Sındırgı claimed one life and injured several others.
Turkey lies atop multiple active fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. Earlier this year, a devastating 5.8-magnitude quake in July resulted in one death and 69 injuries, while the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake in the country’s south killed over 53,000 people and left vast destruction in its wake, including the ancient city of Antakya.