6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northwest Turkey, Killing One and Injuring Dozens

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey on Sunday evening, killing at least one person, injuring 29 others, and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse.

The quake struck at 7:53 p.m. local time (5:53 p.m. UK time), with its epicenter in the town of Sındırgı, Balıkesir province–about 125 miles (200 km) south of Istanbul. It was felt across multiple provinces, including Turkey’s largest city, sending residents rushing into the streets.

Television footage showed rescue teams working through the night, pausing frequently to call for silence as they listened for signs of life beneath the rubble. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that an 81-year-old man died after being pulled from the debris in Sındırgı.

Authorities reported that 16 buildings collapsed, most of them derelict and unoccupied. Two mosque minarets also toppled during the tremor. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the earthquake struck at a depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), while Germany’s GFZ recorded a slightly different magnitude of 6.19 and a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

At least 20 aftershocks followed, including one measuring 4.6. AFAD confirmed that one building in Sındırgı had collapsed entirely, with four people rescued alive and efforts ongoing to free another trapped individual.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated a 41% probability of between 10 and 100 fatalities and potential economic damages in the millions of dollars–figures based on modeling, with actual numbers yet to be confirmed.

Sındırgı, a town of about 11,000 residents, and surrounding areas have been rattled by frequent quakes due to Turkey’s location on major fault lines. The disaster comes less than two years after the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed over 53,000 people in Turkey and another 6,000 in Syria.

In April, Istanbul suffered a 6.2-magnitude quake that injured more than 150 people, underscoring the persistent seismic threat facing the nation.

Rescue operations remain underway as authorities brace for further aftershocks.

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