Over 150 people were injured in Istanbul after leaping from buildings during a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked the city on Wednesday. The quake, one of the strongest in recent years, struck the European side of Istanbul and triggered widespread panic.
Residents, shaken by the tremor and fearing building collapses, rushed into the streets. Many sought refuge in parks, while others stood outside their homes or sat on doorsteps, bracing for aftershocks. “It started with a big tremor all of a sudden and we felt it very strongly,” said local resident Neslisah Aygoren. “I ran straight to my dog in fear, hugged it and we waited for it to end, lying on the ground.”
According to the Istanbul governor’s office, 151 individuals sustained injuries while jumping from buildings in panic. Fortunately, none were in critical condition. Authorities confirmed the collapse of one abandoned building but reported no injuries. Essential infrastructure, including water and energy systems, remained intact, and there were no disruptions to highways, airports, railways, or subways.
The quake struck at 12:49 p.m. local time, with its epicentre near Silivri, approximately 80 km west of Istanbul, at a shallow depth of 6.92 km. The tremor evoked traumatic memories of past disasters, including the devastating 1999 quake near Istanbul that claimed 17,000 lives, and the 7.8-magnitude quake in February 2023 that killed over 55,000 people and left hundreds of thousands displaced in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
In response, President Tayyip Erdogan stated he was closely monitoring the situation. His office issued safety guidelines in the event of further seismic activity, as Istanbul’s 16 million residents remain on alert.
Source: Swifteradio.com
