A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale jolted Balikesir province in northwestern Turkey on August 10, 2025, at 7:53 PM local time. The seismic event, with its epicenter located in the Sindirgi district, was felt as far away as Istanbul and Bursa. Initial reports from Sindirgi indicate that approximately a dozen structures have collapsed. Emergency services are currently conducting rescue operations, having successfully freed four individuals from the debris of one building. Damage has also been reported in the nearby village of Golcuk, where several homes were affected, some collapsing entirely, and a mosque minaret sustained damage.
Following the initial tremor, a series of aftershocks occurred, including one registering a magnitude of 4.6. Authorities have advised the public to remain cautious and to avoid or evacuate buildings deemed at risk. The nation's president has pledged support for all those affected by the earthquake. Balikesir province is located in a seismically active region, prone to numerous earthquakes annually due to its position on major fault lines, such as the Havran-Balikesir Fault Zone. While lessons from past earthquakes, like the 1999 Izmit earthquake, have informed updated building codes, consistent enforcement and the retrofitting of older structures remain crucial for disaster risk reduction and building earthquake-resistant settlements.