Quake rocks Istanbul: Authorities urge residents to stay cautious
Istanbul, Turkey, was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on Wednesday. Aftershocks and an earlier quake with a magnitude of 4.9 further heightened safety concerns. Authorities are monitoring the situation, and residents are warned against entering damaged buildings. The tremors were recorded during a live TV broadcast, among other instances.
What you need to know?
- Main earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2: This occurred on Wednesday in Istanbul, with the epicentre in the Sea of Marmara. The tremors were felt at 5:49 AM Eastern Time.
- Aftershocks: These reached a magnitude of 4.9, and a previous quake with a magnitude of 3.9 occurred less than an hour before the main shock.
- Authorities urge caution: They recommend avoiding damaged buildings and limiting the use of public transit.
The Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, stated that all appropriate teams and institutions have already started fieldwork. "The quake was also felt in neighbouring provinces," he added.
The Istanbul city authorities assured that no significant damage was recorded, and the transport minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, confirmed no damage to highways, airports, trains, and the metro.
So far, there are no reports of earthquake casualties. The Governor's Office of Istanbul province has urged residents to avoid entering damaged buildings and refrain from driving or using public transit.
Dangerous in Istanbul as the ground shook
Istanbul residents have left their homes and other buildings en masse, as seen in recordings posted on social media.
The city has been preparing for the risk of a strong earthquake for years due to high seismic activity in this part of Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured that the authorities are "closely monitoring the situation."
