Istanbul, April 23, 2025 – A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck off the coast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara at 12:49 p.m. local time, shaking Turkey’s largest city and sending residents fleeing into the streets. The tremor, centered near Silivri, was followed by over 180 aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.9, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
At least 151 people were injured, primarily from jumping out of buildings or balconies in panic, authorities reported. One abandoned building partially collapsed, but no deaths or significant structural damage have been confirmed. The quake, lasting 13 seconds, was felt in neighboring provinces including Tekirdağ, Yalova, Bursa, Balıkesir, and as far as İzmir, 340 miles south, and even Sofia, Bulgaria.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the Turkey Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) was immediately activated, with emergency services conducting field scans. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged residents to remain vigilant, as many spent the night outdoors in parks and open spaces, fearing further tremors. “Thank God, there is no loss of life so far,” Yerlikaya said.
The quake revived memories of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey in February 2023, which killed over 53,000 people, and the 1999 Istanbul earthquake that claimed 17,000 lives. Istanbul, home to 16 million and located near the North Anatolian Fault Line, faces a 64% chance of a magnitude 7.0 quake by 2030, according to the Kandilli Observatory.
Authorities have advised residents to avoid damaged buildings and prepare for potential aftershocks. The incident has sparked renewed calls for improved earthquake preparedness and stricter building regulations in the seismically active region.