More than 150 injured after powerful tremors strike Istanbul (2025)

10 minutes agoBy Allan Glen

Istanbul schools to close for two days

Schools in Istanbul will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Education Minister Yusuf Tekin has announced.

He adds that no serious incidents have been reported at any schools in the city, and that school gardens will be open to members of the public to be used as safe spaces.

Today, 16:00By Allan Glen

President's statement

"Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an event marking the National Sovereignty and Childrens Day holiday. "May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents and troubles."

Today, 15:30By Allan Glen

Residents flock to parks

Many residents flocked to parks, school yards and other open areas to avoid being near buildings in case of collapse or subsequent earthquakes, reports PA.

Some people pitched tents in parks.

Today, 14:36By Allan Glen

Updates – more than 150 people injured in earthquakes

More than 150 people were hospitalised with injuries sustained while attempting to flee buildings, the Istanbul governor's office said.

The incident, which started at 12:49 pm during a public holiday when many children were out of school and celebrating in the streets, caused widespread panic in Istanbul, which is on tenterhooks due to the looming threat of a major earthquake.

Panicked residents rushed from their homes and buildings into the streets.

The disaster and emergency management agency has urged people to stay away from buildings.

Today, 14:00By Allan Glen

Istanbul's expansion – and the risks involved

Istanbul has also been expanding geographically over the last several years, with many people opting to move to less built up areas, outside the city centre.

Scientists have long said that a big earthquake in Istanbul, which has been expected for years, could hit at any moment.

Today, 13:30By Allan Glen

Aftermath of the earthquakes – images

Here are the latest images coming in from Istanbul following the earthquakes this morning as residents come to terms with the situation unfolding in their city.

Today, 13:00By Allan Glen

Residents await news as president investigates

President Tayyip Erdogan said on X he is monitoring the situation.

Today, 12:30By Allan Glen

Istanbul earthquakes – images

Here are the latest images coming in from Istanbul following this morning's earthquakes.

Today, 12:17By Allan Glen

No reports of damage yet, say Istanbul authorities

Officials from the Istanbul Governorship say they have not yet received any reports of earthquake damage.

Authorities are still scanning the city and are asking members of the public not to approach buildings that might be damaged.

They advise people to not drive or use their phones unless absolutely necessary as disaster and emergency management teams start to assess the impact of the quakes.

Today, 12:07By Allan Glen

Istanbul – images following earthquake

People have been spotted leaving buildings in panic after the 6.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Istanbul earlier today

Today, 12:02By Allan Glen

Public urged not to enter damaged buildings

Istanbul authorities are warning the public not to enter buildings that might be damaged following the earthquakes.

They advise people to not drive or use their phones unless absolutely necessary.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya says disaster and emergency management teams are starting to assess the impact of the quakes.

Today, 11:58By Allan Glen

What we know so far

Here are the latest updates:

• An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkeys disaster and emergency management agency said. There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

• The earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey. Its epicenter was some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara.

• It was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 5.3. The disaster and emergency management agency urged residents to stay away from buildings.

Today, 11:54By Allan Glen

Disaster agency updates

Here is the latest update from Turkey's disaster agency. The site appears to be back up after reportedly crashing.

We'll keep you updated here with all the latest news.

Today, 11:49By Allan Glen

Turkey at risk from earthquakes

Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023, and a second powerful tremor that came hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern Turkish provinces, leaving more than 53,000 people dead.

Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighbouring Syria.

Today, 11:46By Allan Glen

More earthquakes hit western Istanbul

Turkey's disaster agency has just recorded another three earthquakes, all in Istanbul's Buyukcekmece district.

Their website has reportedly just crashed – presumably due to high demand.

Today, 11:44By Allan Glen

''Buildings at risk'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said there were no serious cases in the earthquake in a statement made on its social media accounts.

Kemal Cebi, the mayor of Kucukcekmece district in western Istanbul, told local broadcaster NTV that there were no negative developments yet but he reported that there were traffic jams and that many buildings were already at risk due to the density of the area.

Today, 11:42By Allan Glen

Second tremor most worrying for Istanbul

It is the second tremor of 6.2 magnitude that will be most worrying for Istanbul's 16 million-strong population.

It's the biggest city in Turkey where a fifth of the country's population lives.

The interior minister says the quake was felt not just in Istanbul but in surrounding provinces too.

Today, 11:40By Allan Glen

Here are the latest images coming in from Istanbul

Today, 11:39By Allan Glen

No word yet of any casualties

News agencies are yet to report any details of casualties. We'll keep you updated here with all the latest news.

Today, 11:38By Allan Glen

Three earthquakes hit Istanbul

This just in from Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, with details of THREE earthquakes:

• Thefirstis of3.9 magnitudeand hit the coast of the Silivri district at12:13local time (10:13 BST)
• Thesecondis of6.2 magnitudeand hit the same area at12:49(10:49 BST)
• Thethirdquake of4.4 magnitudein Istanbul's Buyukcekmece district hit at12:51local time (10:51 BST)

Today, 11:35By Allan Glen

Panic on the streets of Istanbul

People leave buildings in panic after the 6.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the city.

Today, 11:33By Allan Glen

'People felt the tremor'

A CNN reporter shared real-time updates on the earthquake, stating:

“There are reports from people who felt the tremor, particularly in the Silivri and Buyukcekmece areas.

"While we are currently in Caglayan and did not feel it here, it’s reported that the earthquake was felt in districts closer to Silivri, especially in Catalca. Coastal areas seem to have experienced the tremor as well.”

Today, 11:32By Allan Glen

Welcome to the Sun's live blog on the earthquakes near Turkey

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