Earthquake of Magnitude 6.1 Jolts Western Turkey, Three Buildings Collapse

Ankara, October 28 A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck western Turkey late Monday, causing at least three buildings to collapse, officials said. The affected structures were already weakened from a previous earthquake in the region.

As per agency report, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) stated that the earthquake occurred at 10:48 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located in the Sindirgi district of Balikesir province at a depth of 5.99 kilometers. The tremors were felt in several nearby provinces, including Istanbul, Bursa, Manisa, and Izmir, and were followed by multiple aftershocks.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that at least three vacant buildings and a two-story shop in Sindirgi collapsed during the quake. These structures had already sustained significant damage in an earlier earthquake. Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoğlu reported that 22 people were injured, while local administrator Dogukan Koyuncu told the state-run Anadolu Agency that no fatalities had been reported so far, though assessments were still underway.

In August, Sindirgi had experienced another 6.1 magnitude quake that killed one person and injured dozens. Since then, the surrounding region has continued to experience low-intensity tremors.

Turkey remains one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. In 2023, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed around 53,000 people and destroyed or severely damaged millions of buildings across 11 southern and southeastern provinces. The disaster also claimed nearly 6,000 lives in neighboring northern Syria.