Earthquakes shake Istanbul, sparking fears of bigger one

New Delhi, Apr 23: A series of earthquakes struck Turkey’s Marmara Sea region on Tuesday, rattling Istanbul and nearby provinces. The strongest, with a magnitude of 6.2, has heightened fears among residents of a much-anticipated major quake in the country’s largest city. According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), several tremors were recorded within minutes along the Marmara coast, with epicentres near Istanbul’s western districts of Silivri and Büyükçekmece.

While the area is some distance from the city centre, both suburbs are heavily populated, especially during warmer months when residents and tourists flock to the coast.

The 6.2-magnitude quake was felt across a wide area, reaching as far as Ankara, 440km away. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the tremors were felt in multiple provinces, but no major damage or casualties have been reported so far. Still, officials have urged the public not to return to unsafe buildings until full inspections are carried out.

Media reported that local and international residents alike fled into the streets in panic. Residents say it’s the strongest quake they have felt in years.  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he is monitoring the situation closely. Emergency teams have been deployed to assess any risks, and aftershocks remain a concern.

The incident has revived deep concerns in a city of over 16 million people, many of whom have long lived with the fear of a devastating earthquake. Istanbul sits near the North Anatolian Fault, one of the most active seismic zones in the world. Experts have repeatedly warned that a powerful quake in or near Istanbul is likely to strike within the coming decades.

Turkey has experienced several deadly earthquakes in the past. In 1999, a 7.4-magnitude quake hit the city of İzmit, just east of Istanbul, killing over 17,000 people. More recently, in February 2023, a pair of massive earthquakes devastated southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, killing over 50,000 people and leaving millions homeless.

Though no serious damage has been reported this time, Tuesday’s tremors have served as a stark reminder. For Istanbul’s residents, the fear is not just about what happened, but what might come next.