6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes western Turkey, no casualties reported

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Oct 2025 23:50
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A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck western Turkey late Monday, destroying buildings in Sindirgi and shaking major cities like Istanbul and Izmir, though no casualties have been reported.

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Residents gather amid the rubble of a collapsed building in Sindirgi, western Turkey, after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck late Monday night. (Agencies)

A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck western Turkey late Monday night, sending tremors through several cities, including Istanbul and the coastal province of Izmir, according to the country's disaster agency AFAD.

The quake hit at 10:48 pm local time (1948 GMT), with its epicenter located near the hillside town of Sindirgi, where local media reported visible structural damage. Footage broadcast by the private DHA news agency showed a house reduced to rubble and others bearing cracks and partial collapses.

"Following the earthquake, which was also felt in surrounding regions, AFAD and all of its teams... have begun working on the ground," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, confirming that search and assessment operations were underway.

Sındırgı Belediye Başkanı Serkan Sak: "Can kaybımız yok ama tespit çalışmalarına devam ediyoruz. Yıkım kararı verilen binalardan bir kaç tanesinin yıkıldığı görülüyor"https://t.co/J2GyxTQvTT pic.twitter.com/Y53vadMtrW
— İlke TV (@ilketvcomtr) October 27, 2025

Despite reports of property damage, no immediate casualties have been recorded. Residents in nearby cities described feeling prolonged shaking, prompting many to rush into the streets as a precaution.

WATCH: Panicked people flee a café in Istanbul, Turkey as earthquake shakes Balıkesir https://t.co/FcB6G1yf4F pic.twitter.com/QPx7MtbHN6
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) October 27, 2025

The region has experienced frequent seismic activity in recent months. In August, a tremor of similar strength in Sindirgi left one person dead and dozens injured. Turkey sits atop several active fault lines, making it highly prone to earthquakes. The most devastating in recent memory occurred in February 2023, when a 7.8-magnitude quake killed more than 53,000 people and razed much of Antakya, the site of ancient Antioch.

At the beginning of July, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the same area, resulting in one fatality and nearly 70 injuries, underscoring the ongoing seismic volatility of western Turkey.