A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 shook areas near Istanbul on Wednesday, causing panic among people in Turkey’s largest city. The earthquake hit at 12:49 PM local time and was centered in the Marmara Sea, close to the town of Silivri.
The tremors were felt across Istanbul and surrounding regions. Many people ran out of buildings in fear as the ground shook. Residents said the shaking was very strong, and some shared that furniture inside their homes fell over during the quake. So far, there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries, but people remain alert and worried.
Soon after the main quake, two smaller aftershocks were also reported by officials. These aftershocks added to the fear, but there have been no reports of major damage yet.
Istanbul is home to about 16 million people and is one of Turkey’s busiest and most important cities. It sits near the North Anatolian Fault, a major fault line that has caused strong earthquakes in the past. Because of this, experts have been warning for years that Istanbul is at risk of a major earthquake in the future.
Wednesday’s earthquake has once again raised concerns about the city’s safety and how prepared it is for such events. Authorities are checking buildings and monitoring the situation closely. People have been advised to stay alert and follow safety instructions.
Events like this remind everyone of the importance of earthquake preparedness, especially in regions like Istanbul where the risk is higher. While there were no immediate major damages reported, the strong shaking left many people frightened and cautious about what might happen next.
