In brief
A powerful earthquake shook Istanbul, causing panic but no reported casualties or significant damage as emergency services assess the situation.
The bustling city of Istanbul experienced a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, prompting residents to rush outside as buildings shook. Turkey's emergency services have stated that there were no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage in the city, home to 16 million people.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located about 25 miles southwest of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara and struck at a depth of six miles. The tremors were felt as far away as Bursa, approximately 40 miles from the city, and even reached Izmir, a coastal area nearly 300 miles distant.Turkey is situated on two significant fault lines, making it prone to seismic activity. The recent quake serves as a stark reminder of the devastating 2023 earthquake that took over 50,000 lives in Turkey and claimed another 6,000 in neighboring Syria, leaving lasting memories of loss and destruction in its wake.
