A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Istanbul on Wednesday, according to Turkiye’s disaster agency AFAD, marking one of the most significant tremors to hit the city in recent years.
While there were no immediate reports of major damage, the quake prompted residents across the city to evacuate buildings. The tremor was strongly felt throughout Istanbul, a city of 16 million that spans both sides of the Bosphorus Strait.
As aftershocks rippled through the area, many residents gathered in open spaces such as parks or waited outside their homes, while some shops on the European side of the city closed as a precaution.
The earthquake struck at 12:49 local time (2:49pm PKT), with its epicenter located near Silivri, around 80 kilometers west of central Istanbul. AFAD reported the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 6.92 kilometers.
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said preliminary checks revealed no damage or disruptions to highways, airports, subway lines, or railway services.
Local media outlet TGRT reported that one individual sustained injuries after jumping from a balcony in panic during the quake, which coincided with a public holiday in Turkiye.
The governor’s office in Istanbul confirmed there were no reports of structural collapses but urged residents to stay calm and keep a safe distance from potentially weakened buildings.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on social media platform X that he was closely monitoring the situation. His office also shared public safety guidelines in case of further seismic activity.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern over the quake and reaffirmed his country’s readiness to assist Turkiye in any way needed.
The tremor stirred memories of past disasters, particularly the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February 2023 that claimed over 55,000 lives and injured more than 107,000 in southern Turkiye and northern Syria. Many survivors from that tragedy still reside in temporary shelters.
This latest quake also brought back memories of the deadly 1999 earthquake near Istanbul, which killed approximately 17,000 people.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) recorded a slightly lower magnitude of 6.02 for the quake and placed its depth at 10 kilometers.
