A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck western Türkiye late Monday night, sending residents rushing out of their homes as buildings swayed and walls cracked across several towns. The tremor, which was centred in Sındırgı district of Balıkesir province, was felt across major cities including İstanbul, İzmir, Bursa, and Manisa.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at around 10:48 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of around 6 kilometres, amplifying its impact on the surface. Officials said no fatalities have been reported, though 22 people sustained minor injuries, mostly from panic and falls as they fled their homes.
In Balıkesir’s town centre, residents described scenes of chaos as sirens blared and power flickered. People were scared for their lives when they felt that the ground was shaking, which did not seem to stop anytime soon. People were crying and praying in the streets. They were just so grateful to be alive.
Several older and previously damaged buildings collapsed, including a two-storey commercial structure and three residential blocks already marked unsafe from earlier quakes. Emergency teams quickly cordoned off unsafe areas, while local authorities opened mosques, schools, and sports halls to shelter families reluctant to return indoors amid continuing aftershocks and light rain.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that rapid assessments were underway to identify structural risks, stressing that “preparedness and public calm saved lives tonight.” Experts at Türkiye’s Kandilli Observatory said the quake was part of a “stress transfer sequence” following earlier tremors in the region this year, cautioning that damaged infrastructure remains highly vulnerable.
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