Another earthquake shook the Turkish province of Balikesir on Sunday evening, causing significant destruction and claiming one human life. According to official data from Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the tremor with a magnitude of 6.1 caused complete collapse of 16 buildings and injured 29 people.
The epicenter of the earthquake was localized in the city of Sindirgi, where an 81-year-old woman lost her life after being pulled from the rubble. The Turkish Disaster Management Agency reported that the earthquake was registered around 19:53 local time and was felt even in the metropolis of Istanbul.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted immediately, wishing quick recovery for those affected and emphasizing that he is personally monitoring the rescue operations. In a statement published on the social platform X, the head of state expressed hope for God's protection against natural disasters.
Rescue teams completed their operations, with the minister assuring that there is no data on additional serious damage or casualties. However, distributed images from Sindirgi show completely destroyed high-rise buildings and piles of twisted metal structures.
Turkey's geographical location makes it extremely vulnerable to seismic activity, as the country is located at the intersection of three major tectonic plates. This fact is confirmed by the tragic earthquake in February 2023, when over 50,000 people died in the southeastern part of the country, and an additional 5,000 in neighboring Syria.
More than two years after that catastrophe, hundreds of thousands of people continue to be without permanent shelter, which further emphasizes the need for effective preventive measures and rapid rescue actions in such natural disasters.