A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit the western Turkish province of Balıkesir late Monday, centred near the town of Sındırgı, leaving buildings partially collapsed, dozens injured and widespread panic among residents.
According to the country’s disaster management agency AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority), the quake struck at 10:48 p.m. local time (19:48 GMT) at a shallow depth of approximately six kilometres. The tremor was felt across multiple neighbouring provinces including İzmir, Bursa and Manisa, and also in Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that at least three vacant buildings and a two-storey commercial structure collapsed in Sındırgı. He noted that all these structures had sustained damage during an earlier quake. Meanwhile, Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said 22 people have been injured so far, mostly from falls, panic-driven mishaps and reactions to the tremor rather than from structural failure. Officials confirmed that no fatalities have been recorded as yet.
As rain commenced in the region, many residents remained outdoors, too fearful to return to their homes amid the possibility of further shocks. School buildings, mosque halls and sports facilities have been opened as emergency shelters for those unwilling to enter their dwellings. Sındırgı had previously been struck in August by a similar-magnitude quake of 6.1 which claimed one life and inflicted several injuries.
The latest tremor comes as a stark reminder of Turkey’s vulnerability to seismic events, a nation lying at the convergence of major fault lines. In February 2023, a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.8 caused more than 53,000 deaths across 11 southern and southeastern provinces, and destroyed or damaged countless buildings. That catastrophe also extended into northern Syria, where about 6,000 people died.
Search and assessment teams have been dispatched to the affected districts to evaluate the extent of structural damage and to ensure that rescue operations are ready should aftershocks trigger further collapses. Residents have been advised to stay in open areas until official all-clear is given, and to remain alert for additional tremors.
As of now, local authorities are focusing on stabilising shelters, restoring temporary services and conducting rapid structural inspections in vulnerable zones. The psychological toll of the quake is evident, with many individuals and families choosing to remain on streets and open public spaces overnight rather than risk being inside damaged buildings.
The government has indicated that it will closely monitor the situation and issue further updates should conditions deteriorate. The resilience of the affected communities and the speed of emergency response will prove critical in the coming hours as aftershock risk remains high.
