A 6.2 magnitude earthquake caused significant destruction in Istanbul on Wednesday. The epicenter was located in the Sea of Marmara, prompting residents to evacuate their homes. For further information, please continue reading.
On Wednesday, an earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul, as reported by Turkey’s disaster and emergency management agency. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (approximately 6 miles), with the United States Geological Survey indicating its epicenter was located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. Following the initial quake, several aftershocks were recorded, including one with a magnitude of 5.3. The disaster management agency advised residents to avoid buildings. Reports indicated that the tremor was felt in surrounding areas, prompting many individuals to flee their homes in fear. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality stated via social media that there were no significant incidents resulting from the earthquake. Kemal Cebi, the mayor of Kucukcekmece district in western Istanbul, informed local broadcaster NTV that there had been no adverse developments thus far, although he noted traffic congestion and the precarious condition of numerous buildings due to the area’s density. Turkey is traversed by two major fault lines, making earthquakes a common occurrence. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023, along with a subsequent powerful tremor, caused extensive destruction or damage to hundreds of thousands of structures across 11 provinces in southern and southeastern Turkey, resulting in over 53,000 fatalities. An additional 6,000 lives were lost in the northern regions of neighboring Syria. Although Istanbul was not affected by that earthquake, the devastation raised concerns about the potential for a similar event, with experts highlighting the city’s closeness to fault lines. In response to mitigate future damage from earthquakes, both the national government and local authorities have initiated urban reconstruction projects aimed at reinforcing vulnerable buildings and have launched campaigns to demolish structures at risk of collapse.
