6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Kills One, Injures 29 in Northwestern Türkiye

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwestern Turkey's Balikesir province, centered in the town of Sindirgi, resulting in the death of an 81-year-old individual and injuring 29 others, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The quake caused the collapse of 16 buildings, mostly abandoned structures, including a three-story building in the city center, with several people rescued from the rubble. The tremor was felt across multiple provinces, including Istanbul and Izmir, triggering widespread panic and prompting authorities to urge residents to avoid damaged buildings. Search and rescue operations have concluded with no additional casualties reported, while aftershocks ranging from 3.5 to 4.6 magnitude continued to be felt. This event follows previous significant earthquakes in Turkey, including a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake in 2023 that killed over 53,000 people. Turkish disaster management agencies and first responders were actively involved in rescue efforts amid concerns about the country's vulnerability due to multiple geological fault lines.