A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul and nearby areas on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the region. The epicenter was located just 40 kilometers southwest of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara, which caused widespread panic among the city’s 16 million residents.
A video widely shared online shows the calm waters of the Sea of Marmara disrupted by the tremor. The waves rippled across the surface, a visible sign of the earthquake’s force as it rocked the region.
Despite the widespread fear, there have been no reports of serious structural damage, though at least 236 people were treated for injuries caused by panic or accidents, with many seeking safety after attempting to jump from buildings.
“A total of 236 citizens were affected by panic attacks and from falls or from jumping,” Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
The earthquake’s tremors were felt in office buildings and residential areas, sparking panic as people rushed to safety.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoan, speaking at a National Sovereignty and Children’s Day event, expressed relief that there appeared to be no immediate damage, saying, “Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now,” and prayed for the nation’s protection from future disasters.
Meanwhile, Leyla Ucar, a personal trainer, described feeling intense shaking while working out with a client on the 20th floor of a high-rise building, highlighting the quake’s powerful reach.
Memories of the massive twin earthquakes on February 6, 2023, remain fresh—when a 7.8-magnitude quake and a second major tremor hit 11 provinces in southern and southeastern Turkey.
That disaster caused widespread destruction, damaging hundreds of thousands of buildings and claiming over 53,000 lives. In neighboring Syria, more than 6,000 people also lost their lives.
