One person has died and 29 people have been injured as a result of the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that shook the Balıkesir region and was felt strongly in Istanbul and many other cities, BTA reported.
An 81-year-old man has died after being pulled alive from the rubble of a block of flats in Sundargarh that collapsed during the earthquake, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced. All efforts were made to save him after he was pulled alive from the rubble, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful, the minister said, quoted by the newspaper “Milliyet“.
He said that the condition of the 29 injured was not serious and there was no danger to their lives. 16 buildings located in rural hamlets were destroyed.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Agency announced that search and rescue activities were suspended overnight. An inspection to determine the damage to the buildings is planned to begin tomorrow morning. Reinforcements have been sent from neighboring districts. Citizens are warned not to enter damaged buildings.
Meanwhile, the famous Turkish seismologist, Prof. Naci Görüş wrote on his social media account: “I don't think there will be a stronger earthquake. "But stay away from your homes for a while," he said.
Turkish media reported that thousands of people had gone out to spend the night.
The Kandilli Observatory reported that the main quake in the Balıkesir region was followed by three aftershocks with magnitudes of 4.6, 4.1 and 4.0, and about 15 with magnitudes above 3.