Earthquake 6.2 Magnitude
On Wednesday, Istanbul was rocked by a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2, according to Turkey's AFAD disaster agency. This tremor, one of the strongest to hit the city in recent years, sent waves of panic through the population of 16 million. While there were no immediate reports of significant damage, the quake left residents shaken as they evacuated buildings and sought refuge in public spaces.
The earthquake struck at 12:49 PM local time (0949 GMT), with its epicenter located in Silivri, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Istanbul. The tremor occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 6.92 kilometers (4.3 miles). Although the initial inspections did not reveal any damage to critical infrastructure such as highways, airports, or public transit, many people took precautions by gathering in parks or standing outside their homes to avoid potential aftershocks. Some shops in the city closed their doors in response to the quake.
The incident occurred during a public holiday in Turkey, and reports from TGRT news confirmed that one person had been injured after jumping off a balcony during the quake. However, there have been no reports of major structural damage or building collapses. Authorities, including the Istanbul governor’s office, urged residents to stay calm and avoid approaching potentially damaged buildings.
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu reassured the public that there were no disruptions to transport networks, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan kept a close watch on the situation. His office issued guidelines on safety measures in case of additional tremors, as aftershocks continued to be felt throughout the city.
This recent earthquake in Istanbul has also reignited memories of past disasters, particularly the devastating 1999 earthquake near the city that resulted in the deaths of more than 17,000 people. The latest tremor comes at a time when Turkey is still recovering from the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in February 2023, causing more than 55,000 fatalities and leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced.
Though this earthquake was far less destructive, it served as a stark reminder of the seismic risks faced by Istanbul, a city straddling the European and Asian continents on the Bosphorus Strait.
While the immediate aftermath of the earthquake appears relatively calm, Istanbul residents remain on alert as they continue to monitor for any potential aftershocks.
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