A devastating earthquake has hit Turkey once again. The country’s disaster agency reported several tremors within minutes. All these tremors occurred near the coast of the Marmara Sea and close to Istanbul. Two years ago, during the month of February, strong earthquake tremors were also felt in Turkey, which resulted in thousands of deaths in Turkey and Syria.
According to preliminary information, the earthquake’s magnitude has been recorded at 6.2. This is the second tremor that could prove catastrophic for Istanbul’s population of 16 million. It is Turkey’s largest city, home to the fifth largest population in the country. The country’s interior minister stated that the earthquake was felt not only in Istanbul but also in surrounding provinces.
Turkey’s disaster agency has reported that three more earthquakes have occurred in succession. All these tremors were felt in the Buyukcekmece district of Istanbul. Their website has also crashed. People in Istanbul have come out of their homes. There are currently no reports of casualties.
People say that they have never experienced such strong tremors in Istanbul before. They mentioned that the buildings were shaking. According to the BBC, one person said, ‘I hid inside for a few seconds, and then when the shaking continued, I ran out of the building.’
According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, the first shock was recorded at 12:15 PM local time with a magnitude of 3.9. The second shock had a magnitude of 6.2. The third earthquake was recorded at 12:51 PM local time in the Buyukcekmece district of Istanbul with a magnitude of 4.4.
Officials in Istanbul are warning people not to enter buildings that may be damaged after the earthquake. They have advised people not to drive unless absolutely necessary and to refrain from using their phones. Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has stated that disaster and emergency management teams have started to assess the impact of the earthquake.
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