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Turkey rocked by deadly 6.1 earthquake as homes collapse and terrified locals flee rubble

One person has died following a 6.1 magnitude earthquake near Instanbul was followed by seven aftershocks, each measuring a magnitude of 3.0, on Sunday

[Rescue efforts continue across the Balikesir region in Turkey]

Rescue efforts continue across the Balikesir region in Turkey(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Western Turkey on Sunday, killing one person.

The quake struck at around 7:53 p.m. local time in the Balikesir province, close to Istanbul. The disaster ministry reported that seven aftershocks, each measuring 3.0 magnitude, followed the main seismic event.

Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said an 81-year-old person died after being pulled from under the rubble. Twenty-nine people were injured, Yerlikaya said, adding that 16 buildings had collapsed.

The Istanbul Governor's Office issued a statement, saying: "The earthquake was felt in the provinces of Manisa, Izmir, Usak, and Bursa. To date, a total of seven aftershocks exceeding magnitude 3.0 have occurred."

[Officials confirmed the 81-year-old died after being pulled from the rubble]

Officials confirmed the 81-year-old died after being pulled from the rubble(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

They added: "The 6.1 magnitude earthquake, which occurred in the Sndrg district of Balkesir, was also felt in Istanbul."

Serkan Sak, the Mayor of one of the hardest-hit areas, said: "More than 10 buildings in our district have collapsed. Some are single-story, some are two-story, and some are three-story."

According to the disaster ministry, AFAD Provincial Directorates in Canakkale, Izmir, Afyonkarahisar, Usak, Bursa, Sakarya, Kutahya, Bilecik, Manisa, and Kocaeli have dispatched personnel and gear to aid with search and rescue operations.

The Turkish Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) has been set into motion, and representatives from all disaster groups are set to convene at the AFAD Disaster and Emergency Management Centre," announced AFAD.

[epicenter in the Sindirgi district]

The epicenter of the original 6.1 magnitude quake was in the Sindirgi district(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wished all those affected by the earthquake well, saying that steps were immediately taken to help those affected.

He wrote on X: "I extend my heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to all our citizens affected by the earthquake that occurred in Balkesir and was also felt in our neighboring provinces.

"From the very first moment, all relevant institutions have been mobilized and are taking the necessary steps. We are closely monitoring the efforts. May God protect our country from all kinds of disasters."

AFAD said the quake struck at a depth of 11 km (6.8 miles), while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) registered the earthquake's magnitude at 6.19 and a depth of 10 km.

[Turkey is prone to earthquakes]

Turkey is prone to earthquakes(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Earthquakes in Turkey are common as the country lies on top of major fault lines.

More than 53,000 people were killed when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit the country in 2023. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria.

The epicenter was 37 km (23 mi) westnorthwest of Gaziantep and was the largest to hit Turkey since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake of the same magnitude.

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