A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Istanbul on Wednesday. At least 236 people were injured, officials said.
The epicenter of the quake was in Istanbul’s Silivri district, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
The quake was felt across Istanbul, home to more than 15 million people, and neighboring provinces, sending residents fleeing their buildings in fear, Anadolu reported.
The quake struck at a depth of nearly seven kilometers and lasted 13 seconds, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
The governor’s office added that 236 people were injured after jumping from a height in panic.
They were hospitalized, but none were in life-threatening condition.
“As of 5:55 p.m., 127 aftershocks have been recorded, the largest of which was 5.9,” Yerlikaya said.
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum said that “a total of 378 reports of structural damage have been received so far based on confidential requests submitted to the emergency line”.
– Our teams from the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change have identified evacuation requests for nine houses – he added.
AFAD said that after assessing the reports received by the 112 Emergency Center, there are currently no reports of casualties or destruction.
The agency said that all relevant institutions and response teams have been mobilized, and that scanning of the terrain is underway to assess potential damage and ensure public safety.
They warned citizens not to enter buildings that are damaged or suspected to have been damaged by the tremors, to avoid using vehicles unnecessarily and to refrain from using mobile networks except in emergencies.
