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6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Istanbul, Causing Panic and Injuries
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck beneath the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, igniting widespread panic and resulting in numerous injuries across the city. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of serious structural damage.
According to the Istanbul governor’s office, over 150 individuals were hospitalized due to injuries incurred while attempting to escape buildings. Istanbul is notably situated in a seismic zone, which raises concerns over the potential for significant earthquakes.
The United States Geological Survey indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 6 miles (10 km), with its epicenter located about 25 miles (40 km) south-west of Istanbul, beneath the Sea of Marmara.
This tremor was felt in adjacent provinces such as Tekirdağ, Yalova, Bursa, and Balıkesir, as well as in İzmir, situated about 340 miles (550 km) south of Istanbul. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the earthquake lasted for approximately 13 seconds and was followed by over 50 aftershocks, the most substantial of which reached a magnitude of 5.9.
The event transpired at 12:49 PM on Wednesday, coinciding with a public holiday that saw many children outside celebrating. The quake instigated a hasty evacuation, with residents rushing into the streets for safety. In light of the situation, the disaster and emergency management agency advised the public to steer clear of buildings.
In a statement, the Istanbul governor’s office remarked, “Due to panic, 151 of our citizens were injured from jumping from heights. Their treatments are ongoing in hospitals and they are not in life-threatening condition.”
Many individuals sought refuge in open spaces such as parks and schoolyards to avoid potential structural collapses. Some set up tents in these areas as a precautionary measure.
During a gathering for the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day holiday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed relief, stating, “Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now. May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents and troubles.”
Witness reports from Istanbul residents highlighted the severity of the tremors. Leyla Ucar, a personal trainer, recounted her experience while exercising on the 20th floor of a building when the earthquake struck. “We shook incredibly. It threw us around; we couldn’t understand what was happening initially because of the shock,” she explained. “It was very scary.”
Senol Sari, 51, shared his family’s frightening encounter as they were in their third-floor apartment. Hearing a loud noise followed by shaking, they quickly escaped to a nearby park. “We immediately protected ourselves and waited for it to pass. Of course, we were scared,” he stated, noting the lingering apprehension about potential future quakes.
Cihan Boztepe, 40, voiced similar concerns. After relocating back to Istanbul from Batman province, he described the experience as less intense than previous quakes. “At first, we were shaken, then it stopped, then we were shaken again. My children were a little scared, but I wasn’t. We quickly gathered our things and went down to a safe place,” he said.
Interior Minister Yerlikaya clarified that as of now, authorities had not received reports of collapsed structures. However, he acknowledged that there were reports of damage sustained by various buildings.
Turkey’s geographic position on two significant fault lines results in frequent seismic activity. The nation recently endured a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, followed by another tremor that claimed the lives of over 53,000 people and affected thousands of buildings in 11 provinces in the south and southeastern regions of the country. Additionally, the disaster had severe repercussions across the border in northern Syria, where approximately 6,000 fatalities were reported.
Source
www.theguardian.com