Islamabad, Aug 11, 2025: A Turkey earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening, killing one person and injuring several others. The quake’s epicentre was the town of Sindirgi, where an 81-year-old woman died shortly after being pulled from the rubble, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
Officials reported that sixteen buildings came down, while 29 people were hurt in the tremors. The quake hit at 7:53 pm local time and was felt as far as Istanbul. Turkey disaster agency sent teams to the area but rescue efforts have now ended, with no further serious casualties found.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to the victims families and wished a quick recovery for the injured. He said all response work was being closely followed and prayed for protection from future disasters.
Photos from Sindirgi show flattened buildings, piles of debris and emergency crews working under bright lights through the night.
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Turkey sits on three active tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent earthquakes. In February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude quake in the south-east killed over 50,000 in Turkey and another 5,000 in Syria. Many survivors are still displaced.
The Balikesir tremor is a stark reminder of the country vulnerability to natural disasters and the urgent need for quake-resistant infrastructure.
