A magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred off the coast of İstanbul at 12.49 pm local time (GMT+3), according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

AFAD reported that the epicenter of the quake was the inland Sea of Marmara, off the coast of Silivri on the outskirts of İstanbul. Meanwhile, the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) initially identified the epicenter as off the coast of Tekirdağ, to the west of İstanbul.

The Kandilli Observatory, operated by Boğaziçi University, recorded the magnitude at 6.1 and identified the epicenter as off the coast of Silivri.

The quake was strongly felt across the neighboring provinces as panicked residents rushed out of their homes and workplaces. People continue to wait in open areas.

Damage reports

Two additional moderate earthquakes followed the initial tremor, both occurring off the coast of İstanbul’s Büyükçekmece district near Silivri, AFAD reported. The first measured magnitude 4.4 at 12.51 pm, followed by a 4.9-magnitude quake at 1.21 pm.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media that relevant state agencies had launched field surveys to assess potential damage. “I wish our citizens affected by the earthquake a swift recovery,” he wrote.

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipaliy reported no damage or casualties in preliminary assessment. The mayor of the Silivri district, Bora Balcıoğlu, also announced that no damage or casualties were identified in the initial assessment by the municipality.

The transportation infrastructure in the region did not incur any damage, according to the Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdülkadir Uraloğlu. “In our initial inspections, no damage or negative situation was found on our highways, airports, trains and subways. Our teams continue their general screening and control activities in the field,” he wrote on social media.

Details to follow…