A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the town of Sındırgı in Balıkesir province on Sunday evening, claiming one life and injuring at least 29 people, according to Turkish authorities.

The quake’s epicenter was in Sındırgı, with tremors felt as far as 200 kilometers away in Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city.The earthquake caused over a dozen buildings, mostly derelict and unused, to collapse, trapping several people under the rubble.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that four individuals were rescued through swift search and rescue efforts, while two others escaped on their own. Tragically, an 81-year-old citizen among those rescued succumbed to injuries. “Unfortunately, one of those rescued, an 81-year-old senior citizen, lost his life,” Yerlikaya said. He noted that the injuries sustained by the 29 others were not serious. Additionally, two mosque minarets collapsed during the quake.

The tremor triggered at least 20 aftershocks, impacting cities including İzmir, Kütahya, Yalova, İstanbul, Manisa, Uşak, Aydın, Eskişehir, Sakarya, Tekirdağ, and central Balıkesir. Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency warned residents to avoid entering damaged buildings due to ongoing aftershocks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences and wished for a speedy recovery for those affected. “May God protect our country from any kind of disaster,” he posted on X.

Türkiye, located on several major fault lines, is highly prone to earthquakes. The country is still recovering from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2023, which killed over 53,000 people in the southern and southeastern provinces, primarily due to collapsed buildings. (ILKHA)