Turkey is located in one of the most active earthquake zones in the world.
Istanbul:
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey early Wednesday, injuring at least 35 people.
The mild quake occurred about 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of the country’s largest city, Istanbul, where it was felt strongly.
National officials said the quake was at a magnitude of 5.9 – lower than the 6.1 given by the US Geological Survey – and its epicenter was in Duj province’s Golyaka district, although it also shook other nearby towns.
“We woke up to a loud noise and jolt,” Dujce resident Fatma Kolac told AFP.
We came out of our houses in panic and now we are waiting outside.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that 35 people were injured, including 32 in Dujce, one in Istanbul and the other two in Bolu and Zonguldak provinces.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, who visited Golyaka, said one person was seriously injured after jumping from a balcony in panic.
He said that 70 tremors have been recorded.
Early pictures showed people wrapped in blankets outside their homes early in the morning. Some were seen outside spreading blankets on the floor and lighting fires for warmth.
Officials said schools in Dujce and Sakarya provinces would remain closed on Wednesday.
Soylu said that, apart from a few ruined barns, there were no reports of heavy damage or building collapse, but that inspections were ongoing.
National disaster agency AFAD said there were controlled blackouts in the Dujce region, urging residents not to panic.
Turkey is one of the most active earthquake zones in the world.
Deuz was one of the areas hit by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in 1999 – the worst to hit Turkey in decades.
That earthquake killed more than 17,000 people, including about 1,000 in Istanbul.
Experts have long warned that a major earthquake could devastate Istanbul, which has allowed extensive construction without safety precautions.
In January 2020, Elazig was hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake, which killed over 40 people.
And in November of that year, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, killing 114 and injuring more than 1,000.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
featured video of the day
“Rahul Gandhi Roaming In Saddam Hussein’s Look”: Himanta Sarma