Magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes western Turkey, injuries reported

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck western Turkey late Monday, centered in the town of Sındırgı in Balıkesir province, shaking communities across the region and prompting emergency assessments, officials said. The quake hit at 22:48 local time and was felt in Istanbul and the nearby provinces of Bursa, Manisa and İzmir, as well as parts of neighboring Greece, authorities and local officials reported.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, AFAD, gave the magnitude and location and said field teams were being dispatched to assess damage. The tremor was shallow, at roughly 6 kilometers in depth, and was followed by several aftershocks. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said at least three previously damaged, unoccupied buildings and a two story shop collapsed in Sındırgı. Local authorities reported no confirmed fatalities.

Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu said 22 people were injured, mostly in panic related falls, and that the injured were receiving care. Sındırgı district administrator Doğukan Köyüncü said, “So far, we have not identified any loss of life, but we are continuing our assessment.” Many residents remained outdoors, reluctant to return to damaged homes,...