6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey: at least 22 injuries

A strong earthquake struck western Turkey on Monday, October 27, shaking several provinces and causing multiple buildings to collapse. According to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), the quake registered a magnitude of 6.1 and was centered in the town of Sindirgi, located in Balikesir province. It occurred at 10:48 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of about 6 km. Tremors were felt strongly not only in Balikesir but also in nearby cities including Istanbul, Bursa, Manisa, and Izmir, as reported by local media.

Following the earthquake, authorities reported that there were no immediate deaths; however, at least around 22 people sustained minor injuries, mostly from panic-related falls. The tremor was also felt as far away as Greece’s Lesvos Island, roughly 146km from the epicenter. Emergency services have since been placed on high alert in anticipation of potential aftershocks. In response, mosques, schools, and sports halls were opened to provide shelter for residents too frightened to return to their homes, a precaution that has become routine in a country all too familiar with the threat of earthquakes.

Officials confirmed that at least three buildings and a shop in Sindirgi collapsed because of the tremor. Fortunately, no fatalities were immediately reported. Sindirgi district administrator Dogukan Koyuncu stated that emergency teams were conducting thorough inspections to assess the full extent of the damage and to ensure the safety of residents. Local fire departments indicated that the collapsed structures had already been weakened by a previous earthquake that hit the area earlier this year.

The Sindirgi region has faced ongoing seismic activity in recent months. In August, a similar 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the same area, killing one person and injuring dozens. Since that incident, smaller aftershocks have continued to rattle Balikesir and surrounding regions. Turkey lies on several major fault lines, and thus it is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The country still bears the scars of the devastating 2023 earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people across 11 provinces and left widespread destruction in its wake.