Payam Javan: A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul on Wednesday, marking one of the strongest tremors to hit the city of 16 million in recent years, according to Turkey’s AFAD disaster agency. The quake, centered in Silivri, 80 km west of Istanbul, occurred at 12:49 local time at a depth of 6.92 km, prompting residents to evacuate buildings and gather in parks or outside homes as aftershocks persisted. No immediate reports of structural damage emerged, though one injury was reported from a person jumping off a balcony, per broadcaster TGRT. Authorities, including President Tayyip Erdogan, urged calm and vigilance, with initial checks showing no damage to transport infrastructure.

The tremor, felt across Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, revived memories of the devastating 1999 earthquake near the city that killed 17,000 and the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude quake in southern Turkey in 2023, which claimed over 55,000 lives. The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed no buildings had collapsed but advised residents to avoid potentially damaged structures. The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported a slightly lower magnitude of 6.02 and a depth of 10 km. As aftershocks continued, some shops closed, and the city remained on alert during a public holiday.