Western Turkey shaken by quake, one dead, dozens hurt

Sudden Earthquake Shakes Western Turkey, Leaves One Fatality

Magnitude and Impact

• Quake size: 6.1 magnitude
• Time: 7:53 pm local (1653 GMT)
• Aftershocks: 20, ranging 3.5–4.6

Casualties and Rescue Efforts

• One person died after being rescued from collapsed rubble.
• 29 others sustained injuries, none serious.
• Six people lived in a three‑storey building that collapsed; four were rescued alive, two are still being extracted.

Buildings and Damage

• 16 buildings collapsed in Sindirgi and nearby areas.
• Four of the collapsed structures were inhabited; one was a three‑storey central city building.

First Responders and Coordination

• AFAD deployed 319 first responders to the affected zone.
• Mayor Serkan Sak confirmed four survivors had been rescued from the rubble.

Geological Context

• Turkey lies on several fault lines that have historically triggered major disasters.
• February 2023, a 5.8‑magnitude quake in the southwest claimed around 53,000 lives and devastated Antakya, site of ancient Antioch.
• Early July, a similar tremor in the same region resulted in one death and 69 injuries.

Wider Reach of the Quake

• Seismic shaking was felt across several western cities, including Istanbul and Izmir.
• Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported the events to journalists at Sindirgi, the epicentre.