Major earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, strikes Turkey, leaving one person deceased.
In the southeastern Turkish province of Hatay, devastating earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 hit on February 6, 2023. The disaster claimed more than 53,000 lives, according to government figures, and left numerous buildings in ruins, as depicted in television images. The exact location of the injuries or affected buildings remains unspecified.
The Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, reported one fatality due to injuries sustained in the earthquake. Rescuers successfully pulled a man from the rubble, and at least three people were injured. The earthquake was felt in two major cities, Istanbul and Izmir, but no substantial structural collapses or casualties were reported in these cities.
Since April 2022, Turkey has experienced another significant earthquake. On August 10, 2025, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Sindirgi district in Balıkesir province, northwestern Turkey. This event caused the collapse of about a dozen buildings, resulting in one elderly woman's death and approximately 29 injuries, mostly not serious.
The quake was felt across multiple provinces, including Izmir and Istanbul, but the damage was primarily concentrated around the Sindirgi district, with no substantial structural collapses or casualties reported specifically in Istanbul or Izmir from this event. The emergency management agency, AFAD, activated their Turkey Disaster Response Plan and deployed teams from various regions to the affected area.
Minor aftershocks and quakes continued in surrounding areas after the main event, including seven aftershocks above magnitude 3.0 and quakes of up to 2.8 near Orhangazi in Bursa.
Turkey, particularly Istanbul, has a history of earthquakes, making disaster preparedness crucial. Despite these events, efforts are being made to establish contact with two people trapped in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
[1] Disaster protection authority report - February earthquake [2] Disaster protection authority report - August earthquake [3] News article - August earthquake [4] Government figures - August earthquake casualties [5] News article - aftershocks following August earthquake
- The disaster protection authority released a report highlighting incidents of crime-and-justice in the aftermath of the February earthquake in Hatay, as looting has been reported at some of the affected sites due to the lack of security and general-news coverage.
- A recent news article covered the general-news of a general strike in the Sindirgi district, Balıkesir province, following the August earthquake, demanding better infrastructure and accident prevention measures from the government to mitigate future disasters.
