- A 6.1-magnitude quake struck Balıkesir province on Aug. 10, killing one person.
- At least 29 people were injured; 16 buildings were reported collapsed.
- Authorities warned residents to avoid unsafe structures amid aftershocks.
The Big Picture
At least one person is dead and dozens more are injured after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook Turkey’s northwestern province of Balıkesir on Sunday evening, according to the Associated Press. The quake struck just before 8 p.m. local time and was felt as far away as Istanbul—more than 120 miles from the epicenter—the BBC reported.
What’s New
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said an 81-year-old woman died after being pulled from the rubble in Sındırgı, the epicenter of the quake. He added that 29 others were injured and none were seriously hurt. Officials said 16 buildings collapsed, 12 of which were vacant at the time. Residents have been urged to stay out of potentially unstable structures as aftershocks continue, the New York Times reported.
What They’re Saying
Balıkesir’de meydana gelen ve bölge illerimizde de hissedilen depremden etkilenen tüm vatandaşlarımıza geçmiş olsun dileklerimi iletiyorum.…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) August 10, 2025
Context
Turkey straddles multiple major fault lines, making strong earthquakes a persistent risk. Balıkesir sits within the broader Marmara seismic zone, which has produced damaging quakes in the past. The country is still recovering from the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people across Turkey and Syria—widely called “the disaster of the century.”
What’s Next
Search-and-assessment teams are surveying damage while monitoring aftershocks. Authorities are prioritizing inspections of older and visibly cracked buildings and caution residents to wait for clearance before reentering affected structures. Further updates from emergency agencies are expected as assessments continue.
The Bottom Line
Sunday’s quake caused limited fatalities but served as a stark reminder of Turkey’s ongoing seismic vulnerability—especially in the Marmara region—where preparedness, sturdy construction, and swift response remain critical.
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