Woman Takes Cover as 6.2-Magnitude Quake Shakes Turkish Office, Cupboard Topples
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake rattled western Turkey on Sunday evening, sending furniture tumbling inside offices and homes. No casualties have been reported so far. The country’s disaster management agency AFAD confirmed the tremor occurred in Balikesir province, near Istanbul, at 7:53 pm local time.
A viral video from the incident shows a woman swiftly ducking under her desk as the tremors grow stronger. Moments later, a cupboard crashes to the floor, spilling its contents across the room.
AFAD reported the quake struck at a depth of 11 km (6.8 miles), while Germany’s GFZ measured it at 6.19 magnitude with a depth of 10 km. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that emergency teams were deployed across Istanbul and nearby provinces for inspections, adding that there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
In a related update, AFAD also confirmed a 6.1-magnitude quake in Sindirgi, western Turkey, the same day. The tremors were felt in several cities, including Istanbul and the tourist hub Izmir.
Turkey, located on multiple active fault lines, remains highly prone to earthquakes. In February 2023, the nation suffered one of its deadliest quakes—a 7.8-magnitude disaster that claimed tens of thousands of lives, injured many, and caused large-scale destruction. The tragedy was followed by strong aftershocks, further hampering rescue operations.
