Published: April 23, 2025, 05:36 PM
One person is reportedly injured from jumping off a balcony during the 6.2 magnitude quake.
A strong earthquake shook Turkiye on Wednesday, rattling buildings in Istanbul and prompting people to flee into the streets in panic. The tremor, which struck at 12:49 p.m. local time (09:49 GMT), registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, according to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD).
The quake`s epicenter was located in the Marmara Sea, near Istanbul’s Silivri district, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
Although there were no immediate reports of widespread damage, the jolt caused alarm across Istanbul, a city straddling both Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus strait. Local media outlet TGRT reported that one individual was injured after jumping from a balcony during the tremor.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted on X (formerly Twitter) that emergency response teams had begun field assessments and extended well wishes to all those affected.
AFAD urged residents to avoid entering potentially damaged buildings, warning that aftershocks could pose further risk. The earthquake occurred during a public holiday, which may have helped reduce potential casualties, as many offices and schools were closed at the time.
