The series of earthquakes continued in Istanbul today, with Turkey’s disaster agency AFAD reporting about 300 aftershocks, one of which was a magnitude 4.6.
Since yesterday’s major quake, which had a magnitude of 6.2, AFAD has recorded hundreds of smaller earthquakes along the tectonic faults in the Sea of Marmara.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu wrote in his X order that 236 people were injured, including 173 in Istanbul. Fifteen of them had to be hospitalized, while some were injured jumping from buildings to save their lives. The governor of Istanbul said there were no reports of collapsed buildings.
Urban Development Minister Murat Kurum said 12 buildings had been evacuated as a precaution.
Many residents left the city for fear of a larger quake, and hotels on Turkey’s Aegean coast reported a significant increase in bookings.
Seismologists and geologists quoted in Turkish media generally agree that a major earthquake is still expected, although it is not known when it might occur, experts predict it could reach a magnitude of 7.4, and some even estimate a potential magnitude of 7.7.
