16 Buildings Collapse as Catastrophic Earthquake Hits Turkey

A powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s Balikesir province on Sunday evening, causing one death and injuring 29 people.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that the quake also caused the collapse of 16 buildings and damaged several others.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the tremor shook the region at 7:53 p.m. local time.

Residents felt the quake across multiple provinces, including Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

The country’s disaster management authority, AFAD, recorded the earthquake at a depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles).

Meanwhile, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) measured it at magnitude 6.19 and a depth of 10 kilometers.

Tragically, among the casualties, an 81-year-old person died after emergency teams pulled them from the rubble.

Emergency responders quickly launched search and rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas.

They found no more victims and concluded the rescue work.

Images from Sindirgi, a district within Balikesir, showed crushed vehicles buried beneath piles of debris.

This visual evidence highlighted the quake’s severity and the destruction it left behind.

Local authorities worked swiftly to assess damage and provide aid to survivors.

Turkey sits on several active fault lines, making it prone to earthquakes. Its northwestern region, where Balikesir lies, remains especially vulnerable to seismic activity.

Experts continually warn residents and officials to prepare for future events.

The government and rescue agencies coordinated to respond promptly and effectively. Their quick action helped reduce further harm and chaos after the tremor.

This earthquake adds to a recent series of seismic events worldwide.

For example, a 7.1 magnitude quake recently shook western China, injuring several people and destroying homes.

Additionally, Japan issued a tsunami advisory following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in its northeast.

Moreover, Turkey and neighboring Syria suffered a new quake, which caused at least three deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Such incidents underline the importance of earthquake preparedness and response measures in the region.

The public continues to follow updates as officials work to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, local communities begin rebuilding homes and infrastructure damaged by the tremor.

Authorities urge everyone to stay vigilant and follow safety protocols during earthquakes.

They stress the need for constant readiness in Turkey’s high-risk zones to minimize casualties in future disasters.

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