A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Istanbul Turkey’s largest city early Wednesday afternoon shaking buildings and prompting residents to flee to the streets in panic. The Earthquake struck at 12:49 local time (09:49 GMT) in the Marmara Sea, with its epicenter near Istanbul’s Silivri district according to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, as per the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and was strongly felt across Istanbul and neighboring regions, including Izmir, over 550 kilometers away. Eight aftershocks, ranging between 3.5 and 5.9 magnitude, followed the main tremor.
Streets Flooded With People in Panic
As the earth shook residents ran out of buildings, many still on alert after the devastating 2023 twin earthquakes that killed over 53,000 people in southern Turkiye. In central Istanbul, worried crowds gathered, checking their phones for updates or calling loved ones.
“I just felt earthquake, I’ve got to get out,” said a startled decorator near the iconic Galata Tower, rushing down from a fourth-floor flat.
No Collapsed Buildings, Minor Injury Reported
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed there were no immediate reports of collapsed buildings, though some structural damage was being assessed. One injury was reported after a person jumped from a balcony in fear. Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said highways, railways, airports, and subways had been inspected and were functioning normally.
Due to the Earthquake, public events in Istanbul were cancelled, as the city was already on a public holiday. Officials urged the public to avoid entering damaged buildings while field assessment teams continued inspections.
Experts have long warned of Istanbul’s vulnerability to a major earthquake due to its location near active fault lines. Although the city was spared during the catastrophic February 2023 quakes, the incident increased concerns about the preparedness of its densely packed urban areas.
In recent years, urban renewal projects have been launched to fortify aging structures across Istanbul and demolish buildings at risk of collapse.
Erdogan, Officials Monitor Situation Closely
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was closely monitoring the situation, while emergency response teams continue to evaluate the impact. The tremor was reportedly felt as far away as Sofia, Bulgaria, a stark reminder of how wide-reaching seismic activity can be in the region.
How climate change can be contributing factor in earthquake
As global temperatures rise and glaciers melt at record rates the consequences of climate change are reaching far below the Earth surface. New research suggests that climate driven shifts such as increased rainfall and accelerated ice melt could be triggering or intensifying earthquakes and volcanic activity.Glaciers are massive and they exert significant pressure on the Earth’s crust. When they melt rapidly, that pressure is suddenly relieved, a process called “glacial isostatic adjustment.” This sudden shift can destabilize faults beneath the Earth’s surface, potentially triggering earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
As global warming accelerates ice melt, especially in polar regions and mountainous areas, the risk of such seismic disturbances increases.
While climate change is most often linked to wildfires, droughts and extreme weather, scientists are now exploring its deeper impact literally. Changes in the Earth atmosphere and hydrosphere can influence the stress balance of the Earth’s crust potentially causing shifts in tectonic plates and triggering seismic events as Earthquakes.