Powerful earthquake shakes Turkey again

Turkey was jolted by another strong earthquake early Tuesday morning, registering a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale. According to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake struck near Sındırgı town in Balıkesir province, about six kilometers below the surface.

Tremors were felt across major cities including Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, and Manisa, sending panic-stricken residents rushing out of their homes in the middle of the night. This is the second major earthquake to hit the region in the past three months.

22 people injured

Rescue teams were immediately deployed to assess the damage and assist residents. Officials urged people to remain calm, avoid spreading rumors, and stay alert as aftershocks continue to shake the area. AFAD reported that 14 smaller quakes had already followed the main tremor and warned that more mild tremors could occur.

Why Turkey faces frequent earthquakes

Turkey sits at the intersection of three major tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The Sındırgı region, located in a mountainous zone, frequently experiences seismic activity due to several active fault lines running beneath it.

A history of destructive quakes

While this latest quake caused limited damage, Turkey has a grim history with devastating earthquakes. In February 2023, a massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and another 6,000 in neighboring Syria, destroying hundreds of thousands of buildings. Just two months ago, in August 2025, another 6.1-magnitude quake claimed one life and injured over 50 people.

Minor quake hits Nepal

Around the same time, a mild earthquake measuring 3.5 was recorded in eastern Nepal’s Koshi Province early Tuesday morning. According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, the tremor struck near Kimathangka, close to the Tibet border, about 225 kilometers east of Kathmandu.

Residents in nearby districts - Taplejung, Bhojpur, and Solukhumbu - felt light shaking, but no casualties or property damage were reported. Nepal, situated in a highly active seismic zone, frequently experiences such quakes. The country is still haunted by memories of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April 2015, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives.