Hundreds injured after magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes near Istanbul

An earthquake preliminarily measured at magnitude 6.2 shook Istanbul and other neighbouring cities and provinces in northwestern Turkey on Wednesday. There were no reports of fatalities or serious damage according to Turkish officials.

At least 236 people were injured and are being treated for their wounds. Officials say most of the injuries were a result of panic attacks and trying to jump from buildings.

Istanbul is considered a high risk city for a major earthquake, experts warn the city has a 64% of experiencing an at least magnitude 7 earthquake by the year 2030.

Wednesday’s tremor had a shallow depth of 10 kilometres according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre is the Sea of Marmara, about 40 kilometres southwest of the most populous Turkish city.

It was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Tekirdag, Yalova, Bursa and Balikesir and in the coastal city of Izmir, some 550 kilometres south of Istanbul.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the earthquake lasted approximately 13 seconds and was followed by more than 100 aftershocks, with the strongest measuring in at magnitude 5.9.

The quake started at 12:49 pm local time on Wednesday during a public holiday, when many children were out of school and celebrating in the streets of Istanbul. Panicked residents rushed from their homes and buildings into the streets.

“We were having breakfast. At first, we felt a small earthquake. Later, when we went to the sink to freshen up, I saw the shaking,” said an Istanbul resident speaking to Euronews.

Authorities urged civilians to avoid entering buildings that might have been damaged and said sports halls and mosques would be open to house residents not wanting to spend the night in their homes. Officials also urged the public to remain outdoors as aftershocks were anticipated.

“We're lucky enough to live in an apartment built on a foundation. It's safe there too. But we decided to wait a little longer. When we feel safe, we'll go home too, God willing,” said another Istanbulite.

Authorities had received 378 reports of “structural damage” in various buildings, said Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, adding that 12 buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Only one building — a derelict, long-abandoned structure in the city's historic Fatih district — had collapsed, officials said.

"Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an event marking the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day holiday.

"May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents and troubles,” added Erdogan.

Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on Feb. 6, 2023, and a second powerful tremor hours later, killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighbouring Syria.

In a bid to prevent damage from any future quake, the national government and local administrations started urban reconstruction projects to fortify buildings at risk and launched campaigns to demolish those at risk of collapse.