On April 23, 2025, Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, was rattled by a significant earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale. The tremor struck around midday, with its epicenter located approximately 80 kilometers southwest of the city in the Sea of Marmara, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The quake sent residents rushing into the streets in panic as buildings shook, but fortunately, there were no fatalities reported.
According to the Istanbul governor's office, 151 people were treated for injuries, primarily those who jumped from heights in a state of panic. Fortunately, none of the injured were in life-threatening condition. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, reassured the public on television that no buildings collapsed during the quake, although an empty structure did fall in the Fatih district.
Mitra Nazar, a reporter for Jeugdjournaal, described her experience during the quake, stating, "It was especially shocking. I think everyone in Istanbul felt the tremor. I was working at my desk and felt the house shake. Paintings moved on the wall, and my cat started running around the house in a frenzy." This sentiment was echoed by many residents who experienced the sudden jolt.
In the aftermath, aftershocks were recorded, the strongest reaching a magnitude of 5.3. The Turkish disaster relief agency AFAD issued warnings for people to stay away from buildings, anticipating potential structural issues. The earthquake was not only felt in Istanbul but also in neighboring regions of Turkey and Greece, highlighting the widespread impact of the seismic event.
Historically, Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes, being situated on two major fault lines. The residents of Istanbul live with the constant fear of a significant quake, especially after the devastating earthquake in February 2023 that resulted in nearly 60,000 deaths across Turkey and Syria. Experts have long warned that Istanbul is at risk of a severe earthquake, potentially reaching a magnitude of 7, which could threaten approximately 1.5 million buildings in the city.
In February 2023, a catastrophic earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, claiming the lives of around 62,000 people in Turkey and over 8,000 in Syria. This recent quake served as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the densely populated city of Istanbul, which has a population of about 16 million.
As residents began to process the shock of the quake, many took to the streets to discuss their experiences, with the word "deprem" (earthquake) echoing in conversations. The mayor of Küçükçekmece, a western district of Istanbul, reported that there were no immediate negative developments following the quake, and the city council confirmed that no serious issues had been reported.
Melvyn Ingleby, a former correspondent for NRC who was in Istanbul during the tremor, described the experience as unsettling. He recounted, "I heard a deep rumble – like the subway running underneath, but much louder. The streetlights began to sway, and the building I was in swayed back and forth. It shook quite a bit. Thankfully, it was not as bad as it could have been, but it’s incredibly frightening because we all know what happened two years ago."
Despite the immediate panic, experts and officials have pointed out that Istanbul is not adequately prepared for a major earthquake. Discussions about the city’s earthquake readiness often resurface after such events, but as time passes, the urgency tends to fade from public discourse. Ingleby noted that in the days following the quake, residents would likely begin stockpiling supplies and preparing emergency kits, reminiscent of the reactions seen after a lighter tremor in 2019.
In light of the recent quake, the Turkish government and local authorities are under increasing pressure to address the structural vulnerabilities of buildings throughout Istanbul. With millions of structures at risk, the potential for a future disaster looms large. The 1999 Izmit earthquake, which resulted in approximately 18,000 deaths, serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of inadequate preparedness.
As Istanbul residents recover from the shock of the earthquake, the focus will likely shift toward ensuring the safety of the city’s infrastructure and preparing for future seismic events. The recent quake has reignited discussions about building codes and disaster preparedness, with many hoping that lessons learned from past tragedies will not be forgotten.
In conclusion, while the earthquake on April 23, 2025, did not result in any fatalities, it has once again highlighted Istanbul's precarious position on the fault lines of nature. The resilience of its people is commendable, but as experts warn, the need for proactive measures to safeguard lives and property remains urgent.
