6.1 Quake Devastates Turkey’s Balikesir
Earthquake kills one, collapses buildings in Balikesir province.
A powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province on August 10, 2025, claiming the life of an elderly woman and injuring at least 29 people, according to officials. The quake, centered in the town of Sindirgi, caused significant damage, with 16 buildings—mostly derelict—collapsing, along with two mosque minarets, as reported by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The tremors were felt 200 kilometers away in Istanbul, a city of over 16 million.
The elderly woman died shortly after being rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Sindirgi, where four others were also saved, Yerlikaya told reporters. None of the injured are in serious condition. Television footage captured rescue teams working silently to listen for survivors trapped beneath debris. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) reported several aftershocks, including a significant 4.6-magnitude event, and warned residents to avoid damaged structures due to ongoing risks.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity, wishing a speedy recovery to those affected and writing on X, “May God protect our country from any kind of disaster.” Turkey, situated on major fault lines, is no stranger to seismic activity. The devastating 2023 magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed over 53,000 in Turkey and 6,000 in northern Syria, underscoring the region’s vulnerability. As rescue efforts continue in Balikesir, authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage and urging caution amid aftershocks.
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