Shaun
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck western Turkey near Sindirgi and Balikesir, shaking Izmir, Istanbul, Bursa, and nearby areas. Authorities are assessing damage and warning residents to stay alert for aftershocks. A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit western Turkey on Monday, near the towns of Sindirgi and Balikesir, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake struck 8 km southeast of Sındırgı at a depth of 10.0 km and was recorded at 01:18 UTC+05:30. Tremors were widely felt across Izmir, Istanbul, Bursa, and surrounding areas, causing noticeable shaking and reports of localized damage. Videos shared on social media show buildings collapsed in Sindirgi after the powerful earthquake.
Local authorities reported that four buildings fell, though no injuries or deaths were recorded.
Three of the collapsed buildings had been previously evacuated after earlier quakes, while the fourth was a store that was empty at the time. Sindirgi itself was struck in August by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that killed one person and injured dozens, and the region has experienced multiple smaller tremors since then.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported the earthquake at a depth of 5.99 km (3.72 miles) and noted that the tremors were also felt in Manisa. Turkish emergency services continue to assess rural areas for damage, and residents have been urged to remain alert for aftershocks. So far, local media reports indicate that 14 aftershocks have been felt in Balikesir, though the USGS has yet to confirm these.
Turkey sits atop major fault lines, making earthquakes frequent. In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 quake killed more than 53,000 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings across southern and southeastern provinces, while a separate quake killed around 6,000 people in northern Syria.
