Turkey Earthquake Balikesir Kills One, Injures 29
Quake Strikes Sindirgi at Night
A Turkey earthquake measuring magnitude 6.1 struck Balikesir province on Sunday evening, flattening buildings and leaving residents in shock. An 81-year-old woman died shortly after rescuers pulled her from the rubble in Sindirgi, the epicentre of the quake.
Authorities reported that 16 buildings collapsed, injuring 29 people. The quake struck at 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT) and tremors were felt as far away as Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences and pledged full government support for swift recovery efforts.
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Rescue Efforts and Aftermath
Search and rescue teams completed operations the same night, ensuring no additional victims remained trapped. Officials confirmed there was no further severe damage. However, photos from Sindirgi revealed piles of twisted metal and debris where buildings once stood, underlining the quake’s destructive force.
Turkey’s History of Deadly Quakes
Turkey sits at the collision point of three major tectonic plates, making earthquakes a persistent risk. This disaster comes just over two years after the February 2023 earthquake, which killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and another 5,000 in Syria. Many survivors from that catastrophe still live in temporary shelters, proving that full recovery can take years.
