A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck western Turkey on April 10 evening, shaking cities including Istanbul and the tourist hotspot Izmir, according to the country’s disaster management agency AFAD. The quake hit Balikesir province’s Sindirgi district at a depth of 11 km and was felt as far as 200 kilometres away in Istanbul, followed by several aftershocks, the strongest measuring 4.6.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) recorded the tremor at 6.19 magnitude and 10 km deep. While no immediate casualties or major damage have been reported, local media said one building collapsed in Sindirgi, the earthquake’s epicentre. Authorities have urged people to avoid entering damaged structures.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that emergency teams from AFAD began inspections in Istanbul and neighbouring provinces, with no negative reports so far. Officials continue to closely monitor the situation.
Turkey lies on major fault lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes.
In 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern and southeastern Turkey, killing over 53,000 people and destroying hundreds of thousands of buildings across 11 provinces. The disaster also claimed around 6,000 lives in northern Syria.
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