A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Istanbul and nearby regions on Wednesday, April 23rd, sending shockwaves through the city of 16 million and sparking widespread panic. However, no serious damage has been reported so far.
The quake occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time during a national public holiday, catching many residents and families outdoors. According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara.
Tremors were felt in several surrounding provinces and as far south as Izmir, about 550 kilometers away. Multiple aftershocks followed, including a strong one registering 5.3 on the Richter scale.
In Istanbul, panic gripped the population as people rushed into the streets. “Due to panic, 151 of our citizens were injured from jumping from heights,” the Istanbul governor’s office said in a statement. “Their treatments are ongoing in hospitals, and they are not in life-threatening condition.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the nation during a public event, saying, “Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now. May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents and troubles.”
Situated near major fault lines, Istanbul remains under constant threat of a major earthquake. The trauma of the devastating twin earthquakes on February 6, 2023, in Turkey’s southern and southeastern provinces—where more than 53,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed—continues to weigh heavily on the nation’s memory.
