Camilla Jessen
A powerful late-night earthquake in western Turkey caused panic, building damage, and multiple aftershocks.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Sindirgi in Balıkesir province, western Turkey, on Monday night, sending tremors across major cities like Istanbul and Izmir.
According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at 10:48 p.m. local time and was followed by at least 26 aftershocks within the first hour.
Video footage and photos shared by DHA, a private Turkish news agency, showed the extent of the damage — including a collapsed building and other damaged structures in Sindirgi.
Surveillance cameras recorded chandeliers swaying, water sloshing from pools, and store shelves shaking, while terrified residents rushed into the streets.
Reports from AFP and Anadolu Agency, cited by Digi24, confirmed that the tremors were widely felt across western Turkey.
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Local response and safety measures
In response to the quake, Balıkesir authorities announced that schools would remain closed on Tuesday, and pregnant women and public sector employees with disabilities would be granted administrative leave for the day.
This is not the first time Sindirgi has been hit.
In August, a quake of the same magnitude struck the town, killing one person and injuring 29 others.
A country on fault lines
Turkey sits on multiple seismic fault lines and has experienced some of the deadliest earthquakes in recent history.
The February 2023 earthquake in the country’s southeast claimed more than 53,000 lives, devastating cities like Antakya, once known as Antioch.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely in Balıkesir.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation
