Türkiye has a history of devastating earthquakes, the latest of which claimed tens of thousands of lives in 2023
A powerful earthquake struck beneath the Sea of Marmara on Wednesday, sending tremors rippling across the region, including Türkiye’s most populous city, Istanbul.
The country’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) reported that two distinct quakes were detected after midday local time, with the more intense measuring 6.2 in magnitude. This marked the strongest seismic activity to impact the city of over 15 million in years.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, videos circulating online apparently capture the quake’s unsettling effects from as far as 80km (50 miles) away.
In some videos, interior cameras show lanterns swaying and decorations toppling from shelves as the surroundings shake.
Another clip shows a construction crane bending violently beside an unfinished high-rise.
Some reports indicate that mild waves observed along the shore may have been triggered by the quake.
Many residents of Istanbul, well aware of their nation’s tragic history with earthquakes, promptly evacuated buildings in the aftermath, video footage indicates. The last significant quake occurred in February 2023, wreaking havoc and claiming over 60,000 lives in southern Türkiye and neighboring Syria.
Seismologists warn that a catastrophic “big one” could strike northern Türkiye at any moment, as Istanbul lies in close proximity to the North Anatolian Fault line.
The tremors on Wednesday were reportedly felt in nearby countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.
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