On Sunday evening, August 10th, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Balikesir in western Turkey, resulting in at least one death and 29 injuries.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey reported that the earthquake occurred at around 7:53 p.m. local time on Sunday. The epicenter was located in the town of Sindirgi, near Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, with a depth of 11 kilometers. The tremor was felt in several neighboring provinces.
Following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake, there were several aftershocks ranging between 3.5 and 4.6 magnitude. Approximately 319 rescue personnel were deployed to the disaster area to conduct rescue operations.
Turkey’s Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, announced during a press conference held in the province capital of Balikesir that the earthquake claimed the life of an 81-year-old individual, while 29 others were injured, fortunately with no life-threatening injuries.
Yerlikaya also mentioned that 16 buildings collapsed in Sindirgi and surrounding areas, with 12 of them being vacant structures. Search and rescue operations have concluded without any further signs of severe damage or casualties.
Turkey lies on a major fault line and is prone to earthquakes. In 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the country resulted in over 53,000 fatalities, with hundreds of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged in 11 provinces in the southern and southeastern regions. Additionally, 6,000 people lost their lives in northern Syria due to earthquakes.
On the evening of August 10th, 2025, following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Sindirgi, Balikesir Province in western Turkey, many locals fled to the streets for safety.
After the 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Sindirgi area of Balikesir Province in western Turkey on the evening of August 10, 2025, a building in the area was severely damaged.
Rescue personnel were seen conducting search and rescue operations inside a collapsed building in Sindirgi, Balikesir Province, western Turkey, following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake on the night of August 10, 2025.
In the aftermath of the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that hit Sindirgi, Balikesir Province in western Turkey on August 10, 2025, rescue workers were engaged in extracting a trapped individual from a collapsed building.
These photos capture the immediate aftermath and response following the devastating earthquake in the region.