A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Sea of Marmara off the coast of Istanbul's Silivri district at noon today, causing widespread panic not only in Istanbul but also in other cities such as Ankara and Sakarya. The epicenter of the earthquake, according to the Earthquake Department of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), was located in the sea near Silivri, writes A2 CNN.
Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reacted immediately after the tremors, expressing his solidarity with the citizens: "I convey my wishes for a speedy recovery to our citizens. We are closely following the developments," he said in his first public statement published by CNN Turk.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that preliminary inspections have not revealed any visible damage to the country's critical infrastructure. "During our initial inspections, no damage or emergency situation was found on our highways, airports, trains and metros," the minister said.
The tremors were also felt in the capital Ankara, causing concern among citizens who immediately ran outside buildings to seek safety. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş reacted via social media, saying: “The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Istanbul was also felt in Ankara. I wish everyone affected by the earthquake, especially our citizens in Istanbul, well.”
Even in the city of Sakarya, citizens rushed out of their homes and workplaces as soon as they felt the tremors. Panic was evident, with many people trying to contact family members by phone and waiting in open areas for fear of aftershocks. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
