Istanbul [Turkey], April 24: A strong magnitude-6.2 earthquake and more than 120 aftershocks have rocked Istanbul, injuring some 150 people and sowing fear across the Turkish city of 16 million, authorities said on Wednesday.
No fatalities have been reported, and residential buildings remain intact, according to the Interior Ministry. However, experts are warning that a much stronger quake - potentially magnitude 7 or higher - could still strike in the near future.
Panic gripped the city following the main tremor, which lasted approximately 13 seconds and struck at 12.49pm (0949 GMT). Dramatic scenes unfolded as residents fled their homes, some jumping from windows in fear.
Many of the injuries were caused by falls or panic-related incidents. The Istanbul governor's office said 151 people had been wounded, with none of them in life-threatening condition.
The quake, which was the most severe in the region in over 25 years, struck approximately 60 kilometres west of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara.
Just 13 minutes later, the earth shook again, this time with a magnitude of 5.3 south of the Turkish capital, about 40 kilometres away. Phone and internet services were temporarily disrupted, while long traffic jams formed on major highways. Public parks and open spaces quickly filled with residents choosing to remain outdoors as a precaution.
According to the Istanbul governor's office, no residential buildings collapsed, though an abandoned structure in the Fatih district did fall.
Urban Development Minister Murat Kurum said around 380 reports of building damage had been received by the emergency services by the evening, but the nature of the damage was not yet clear. Twelve buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
Initial inspections revealed no damage to key infrastructure, including roads, airports, railways and metro systems, authorities said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, writing on X in English, extended his "best wishes" to Istanbul's citizens and said, "We are closely monitoring the situation." By 5.55pm, there had been 127 aftershocks, "the strongest of which had a magnitude of 5.9," said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, according to state media.
Parts of Greece were also rattled. People were alarmed in the north-east of the country near the river bordering Turkiye, known in Greece as the Evros and in Turkiye as the Meriç, according to Greek media reports. They had received an SMS warning from the Greek civil protection agency following the initial tremors.
Several Aegean islands also felt the tremors, including Chios and Lesbos. However, there were no immediate reports of damage.
Experts believe that a large earthquake is overdue in Istanbul.
The country has had tragic experiences with earthquakes - in early 2023, two devastating quakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 struck south-eastern Turkiye and northern Syria, killing tens of thousands of people, with 53,000 victims in Turkiye alone. Millions were left homeless.
Source: Qatar Tribune
