Turkey Earthquake Claims One Life, Causes Extensive Damage in Balikesir Province

In a severe seismic event on Sunday evening, a strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the north-west province of Balikesir, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. The epicentre was located in the town of Sindirgi, where an 81-year-old woman tragically lost her life shortly after being rescued from the wreckage, according to Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya. The earthquake, recorded at approximately 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), led to the collapse of at least 16 buildings and left 29 individuals injured.

Residents in major cities, including Istanbul, felt the tremors, and Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed his condolences and pledged full support for recovery operations. He called for divine protection over the country as recovery efforts were closely monitored. Following the incident, search and rescue operations were carried out and concluded successfully, with no further casualties reported, though images from Sindirgi highlight the devastating impact, showcasing buildings reduced to heaps of debris.

Turkey, situated at the convergence of three significant tectonic plates, frequently experiences earthquakes, a peril underscored by a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake in February 2023 that claimed over 50,000 lives in the southern regions of the country and displaced thousands. The ongoing vulnerability to seismic activity remains a critical concern as Turkey continues to grapple with the consequences of natural disasters.