On Wednesday, the earthquake hit 41 km (25 miles) from Istanbul, shaking the Turkish city beyond the Anatolian peninsula, which stretches into Mecca, before falling back on fault lines beneath the Aegean Sea. The earthquake hit at 12:49 PM (09:49 GMT) local time, it was in the Marmara sea, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) near Silivri district, west of the centre of Istanbul.
The massive quakes were widely felt as they caused immediate panic, but damage or casualties were not immediately reported. The earthquake visibly rattled buildings across the densely populated city, and people fled buildings, running into open areas. The shaking was felt in certain neighbourhoods of Istanbul, straddling the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorus Strait, which has seen such fears before, amid plenty of seismic activity.
Office workers, students, and shoppers said they fled schools, malls, and residential buildings in confused and fearful moments. Initial assessments suggested that the City infrastructure was largely intact, and emergency services were put on high alert. The citizens were urged to stay calm and wait for authorities to update them.
Istanbul is the home to more than 15 million people and lies in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, having suffered devastating quakes in the past. Yet there are always experts out there warning about the possibility of a major earthquake hitting the city because of its proximity to the North Anatolian Fault.
Later, AFAD confirmed that emergency response teams were mobilised to follow the situation and, if necessary, to respond. In the area, minor aftershocks were also reported, but they gave no indication of other threats.
Residents were advised to remain vigilant, not to use the elevator and follow the safety protocol in case of aftershocks. The quake is being further evaluated.
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