FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — A powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck western Turkey on Sunday evening, shaking buildings and sending tremors across multiple provinces and into the eastern Aegean islands.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported the quake occurred at 7:53 p.m. local time, with its epicenter near the town of Sındırgı in Balıkesir province.
The earthquake had a shallow depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), intensifying its impact across the region.
The tremor was felt in at least a dozen provinces, including İzmir, Kütahya, Yalova, Istanbul, Manisa, Uşak, Aydın, Eskişehir, Sakarya, and Tekirdağ.
Greek media also reported strong shaking in the islands of Lesvos and Chios, where residents and tourists were briefly alarmed.
Local broadcaster TRT reported that a building collapsed in the Sındırgı district. A 4.6 magnitude aftershock followed minutes later, according to AFAD.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said emergency teams were dispatched to assess damage and assist residents. “There are no reports of casualties or serious damage at this time,” he said. “We continue to monitor the situation closely. May God protect our country and our nation from disasters.”
Turkey sits atop several active fault lines and experiences frequent seismic activity. No tsunami risk was reported following the quake.