A powerful earthquake struck western Turkey, causing three previously damaged buildings to collapse, though no casualties were reported.
The 6.1-magnitude quake hit Sindirgi in Balikesir province at 22:48 local time at a depth of nearly 6 km, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. Tremors were felt in Istanbul and the surrounding provinces of Bursa, Manisa, and Izmir, followed by multiple aftershocks.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that three empty buildings and a two-story shop collapsed after having been weakened by an earlier quake. Balikesir’s governor, Ismail Ustaoglu, said 22 people were injured due to panic-related falls.
Local authorities reported no loss of life so far, while assessments continue. Many residents stayed outdoors in fear of further tremors. With rain falling, public buildings including mosques, schools, and sports halls were opened to provide shelter.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar offered condolences and reaffirmed solidarity with Turkey in a message on X.
Sindirgi had experienced a similar 6.1-magnitude quake in August that killed one and injured dozens, with the wider Balikesir region hit by smaller tremors since.
Turkey lies on major fault lines and experiences frequent earthquakes. In 2023, a 7.8-magnitude quake claimed over 53,000 lives in Turkey and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings, while around 6,000 people were killed in northern Syria.
