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A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Sındırgı in western Turkey’s Balıkesir province on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring dozens, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) said.
The quake, which hit at 7:53 p.m. local time (1653 GMT), was felt across several cities, including Istanbul and the coastal city of İzmir. AFAD reported around 20 aftershocks ranging from 3.5 to 4.6 in magnitude.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said an 81-year-old man died shortly after being rescued from the rubble of a three-story building in Sındırgı’s city center. Six people had been inside the building when it collapsed, and several were pulled out alive.
Yerlikaya said the quake destroyed 16 buildings in Sındırgı and surrounding areas, four of which were inhabited. He added that 29 people were injured, none seriously.
Mayor Serkan Sak earlier told broadcaster NTV that four people had been rescued from the rubble, with efforts to reach two others still under way at the time.
AFAD said 319 first responders were deployed to the area.
Turkey sits on several major fault lines and has a long history of deadly earthquakes. In February 2023, twin quakes in the south killed more than 53,000 people and devastated cities including Antakya, the site of the ancient city of Antioch. In early July a 5.8-magnitude tremor in the same region killed one person and injured 69.