Post by : Rameen Ariff

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Sindirgi district in Turkiye's western Balikesir province late Monday, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said, with vibrations felt as far away as Istanbul and other nearby cities.

AFAD recorded the tremor at about 10:48 p.m. local time (1948 GMT) at a shallow depth of 5.99 kilometers (3.72 miles). The quake was widely felt across western Turkiye, prompting residents to evacuate buildings and gather outdoors as structures swayed.

Officials said there have been no confirmed deaths so far. Sindirgi district administrator Dogukan Koyuncu told Anadolu Agency that damage surveys are under way and that search and inspection teams are assessing buildings for safety. Several people were hurt, largely from falls or other injuries sustained while fleeing their homes.

Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu reported that at least 22 people suffered injuries related to panic-driven incidents but stressed there were no fatalities. Medical teams are attending to the wounded. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya added that three unoccupied houses and a two-storey shop collapsed in Sindirgi; those structures had been weakened by an earlier earthquake.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz wrote on the social network NSosyal that AFAD and other agencies have initiated field inspections and are examining incoming reports. He said the authorities are taking the necessary steps to protect residents and coordinate emergency response.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his sympathy with those affected and confirmed that AFAD teams and local officials are conducting thorough checks in the affected area to ensure public safety.

Emergency response units and local rescue teams have been deployed across Balikesir and neighbouring districts. Residents have been advised to remain calm and to follow updates from AFAD and the Interior Ministry. The Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute warned that aftershocks remain possible and urged people to avoid entering buildings that may be damaged.

The incident underscores Turkiye's exposure to seismic hazards, as the country sits atop several major fault lines. In recent years Turkiye has experienced severe earthquakes, notably the February 2023 disaster that caused widespread destruction in southern Turkiye and northern Syria.

AFAD and local authorities continue evaluating the full extent of the impact in Sindirgi. Some rural areas have reported power outages and limited communications, while emergency crews work to restore services and ensure the safety of residents.

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