6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Turkey, Killing One and Injuring Dozens

A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Sindirgi in western Turkey on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring dozens, the Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD) reported.

The quake, which hit at 7:53 p.m. local time (1653 GMT), was felt across several cities, including Istanbul and the tourist hub of Izmir. It triggered around 20 aftershocks ranging from 3.5 to 4.6 magnitude, according to AFAD.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that an 81-year-old victim died shortly after being rescued from under the rubble in Sindirgi, the quake’s epicentre. Another 29 people sustained injuries, though none were reported to be in critical condition.

The tremor caused the collapse of 16 buildings in Sindirgi and surrounding areas, including four inhabited structures. A three-storey building in the city centre, home to six residents, was among those destroyed. Several occupants were rescued alive, though the deceased was also trapped there before being freed.

Mayor Serkan Sak told NTV that rescue efforts for two other trapped individuals were ongoing. A total of 319 first responders have been deployed to the disaster zone.

Turkey sits atop several major fault lines and has a long history of devastating earthquakes. In February 2023, a massive quake in the southwest killed at least 53,000 people, while a 5.8-magnitude tremor in July claimed one life and injured 69 others.

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