A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck western Turkey late Monday night, causing injuries, property damage, and widespread panic across several provinces. The tremors were also felt across the border in southern Bulgaria.
According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at 22:48 local time, with its epicenter near the city of Sundargah in Balıkesir province. The earthquake was followed by over 40 aftershocks, some of which were strong enough to be felt in neighboring cities.
Residents in Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, and Tekirdag reported intense shaking lasting several seconds. Local television footage showed people rushing out of homes and gathering in open spaces, fearful of further tremors.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that at least 19 people were injured, mostly while fleeing their homes in panic. “Three two-story buildings and one store were destroyed,” Yerlikaya said, adding that the structures were uninhabited at the time of the quake. “Thankfully, there have been no reports of fatalities so far.”
Emergency crews were dispatched to the affected regions, inspecting buildings and assisting residents who spent the night outdoors. Authorities urged people to remain cautious as aftershocks continued through the night.
In Balıkesir, the city closest to the epicenter, the earthquake knocked out electricity in several neighborhoods and caused cracks in walls and roads. Local residents described the shaking as the strongest they had felt in years.
The earthquake’s impact extended beyond Turkey’s borders. The National Seismological Center of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences reported that the tremors were felt in Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Burgas, and Plovdiv. The epicenter was approximately 320 kilometers from Svilengrad and 360 kilometers from Burgas, Bulgarian seismologists said.
Bulgaria’s Civil Protection authorities confirmed receiving numerous calls from residents who felt the quake but reported no injuries or damage. Experts noted that Turkey, lying on several active fault lines, remains one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
The Balıkesir quake is a stark reminder of Turkey’s vulnerability to earthquakes. The country sits atop the Anatolian Fault, where the Eurasian and Anatolian tectonic plates meet, often triggering destructive seismic events.
For now, Turkish authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. Residents have been urged to avoid damaged structures and stay alert as seismic activity remains high in the region.
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