Strong 6.2 Quake Strikes Off Istanbul’s Coastline

• 6.2-magnitude quake strikes Silivri near the Marmara Sea: minister.
• The initial tremor at 12:49 PM was succeeded by three aftershocks.
• As the ground shook, people hurried out onto the streets.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Marmara Sea close to Istanbul’s western outskirts on Wednesday, prompting residents to flee into the streets as officials confirmed the tremor’s impact was felt throughout Turkiye’s largest city.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X that the quake originated in Silivri near the Marmara Sea and was felt in neighboring provinces.

The first quake occurred at 12:49 PM local time and was followed by three aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.4 to 4.9, according to the AFAD disaster management agency.

As buildings rattled, anxious crowds gathered outside, many fixated on their phones for news or making calls, reported an AFP correspondent.

“I just felt the earthquake and had to get out,” said a visibly shaken decorator fleeing from a fourth-floor apartment near Galata Tower, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Fortunately, city authorities and the regional governor’s office reported no immediate injuries or fatalities, nor any structural damages in the vast city of 16 million.

The governor’s office stated, “We have received no information about buildings collapsing,” while urging people to steer clear of potentially damaged structures.

“So far, no serious incidents have been reported following the earthquake in Istanbul,” added the Istanbul municipality on X.

Shockwaves from the quake were felt as far away as Bulgaria, where AFP journalists in Sofia also reported sensations of the tremor.