A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Istanbul and surrounding areas on Wednesday, as reported by Turkey’s disaster management agency. Fortunately, there were no immediate indications of significant damage in the bustling metropolis of 16 million residents. However, over 150 individuals suffered injuries while trying to escape buildings, with the Istanbul governor’s office confirming that hospitalised individuals are not in life-threatening condition.
The quake, with a shallow depth of just 10 kilometres, had its epicentre approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Istanbul, located in the Sea of Marmara. The tremor was felt in nearby provinces such as Tekirdag, Yalova, Bursa, and Balikesir, extending even to the city of Izmir, about 550 kilometres south of Istanbul. Aftershocks followed, including one measuring 5.3.
The earthquake occurred at 12.49pm amid a public holiday when many children were outside celebrating, which triggered widespread panic in the city already apprehensive of the threat of a major seismic event. Residents fled their homes into the streets, leading the disaster management agency to advise the public to avoid buildings.
Among those impacted, personal trainer Leyla Ucar described experiencing significant shaking on the 20th floor of a building, struggling to comprehend the earthquake at first. Others echoed sentiments of fear and anxiety, as many sought refuge in parks and open spaces, even pitching tents as a precaution.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the situation, expressing gratitude that there had been no major disasters thus far. Statements from local officials indicated there were no reports of collapsed buildings; however, some properties, especially older structures, appeared to have sustained damage.
While no fatalities were reported, the mayor of the Kucukcekmece district noted some residents were injured while jumping from buildings amid the chaos. Urban reconstruction projects are underway across Turkey to bolster the resilience of buildings in earthquake-prone areas, particularly in light of the devastating earthquake that occurred in February 2023, which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and extensive destruction in southern provinces.
Turkey’s geological landscape, crossing two major fault lines, makes earthquakes commonplace. The recent quake has reignited fears in Istanbul, leading authorities to reinforce their efforts in urban safety and infrastructure resilience to avert future disasters.