Strong earthquakes shakes Istanbul: City on alert!

Strong earthquakes shakes Istanbul: City on alert!

Istanbul, Türkei - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 shaked the coast of the Marmarameer near Istanbul on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 12:49 p.m. (9:49 a.m.). According to the German GeoForschungszentrum (GFZ), the quake took place at a depth of 10 km. The shocks were noticeable throughout the city and many people left their buildings panicked. Although there were no reports about major damage at first, a person was injured when she jumped from a balcony, reports Al Jazera .

The quake appeared in Turkey on a holiday, which also fueled the situation. As a result of the shocks, the emergency authority Afad warned the population not to enter damaged buildings. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that the emergency authorities started with "field ratings" and pronounced good wishes for those affected.

previous earthquake

This earthquake follows a previous tremor 5.1, which was registered in the Marmara Sea on Monday morning. The epicenter of this earthquake was off the coast of the province of Bursa, and here too there were greater damage and initially injured. However, there was another quake of the strength 4.5 shortly afterwards. Both shocks were partly felt in Istanbul, and experts expect several aftershocks.

The geological activity under the Marmara Sea is one of the main causes of the ongoing quake risks in the region. As is well known, Istanbul is at risk of earthquake, and experts warn that a future quake with a thickness of 7.4 or higher is very likely. However, the exact time of such an event remains unpredictable, which is afraid of the residents of the city.

earthquake security in Istanbul

The concerns about earthquake security in Istanbul have increased in the past few months, especially after the devastating earthquakes in the Southeast Turkey, which cost more than 50,000 people in February 2023. In Istanbul, around 16 million people officially live with unofficial estimates of up to 20 million. According to the Istanbul civil engineering chamber, around 1.6 million buildings in the city are not earthquake -proof, which exacerbates the risk situation.

After the last earthquakes, numerous residents of the city have applied for the security of their buildings - a total of 85,000 applications. These controls include structural tests for earthquake security, which include the drilling of walls and the checking of concrete and steel tests. Many people are concerned about the safety of their apartments, especially in older quarters with problematic soil.

In the case of uncertain buildings, the residents are forced to move out, which is an additional challenge in the current housing market situation. Economic burdens from inflation and a difficult financial situation make it difficult for many to be able to afford new, earthquake -proof apartments. This situation leads to an increased debate about the need for safe living opportunities in a city that is regularly threatened by earthquakes, such as Tagesschau and report.