Istanbul rattled by 6.2-magnitude quake (VIDEOS)

A powerful earthquake struck beneath the Sea of Marmara on Wednesday, sending tremors rippling across the region, including Türkiye’s most populous city, Istanbul.

The country’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) reported that two quakes were detected after midday local time, the more powerful of which measured  6.2 in magnitude - the strongest seismic activity to impact the city of over 15 million people in years.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, videos circulating online apparently capture the quake’s unsettling effects from as far as 80km (50 miles) away.

In some videos, interior cameras show lanterns swaying and decorations toppling from shelves as the surroundings shake.

Another clip shows a construction crane bending violently beside an unfinished high-rise.

Some reports indicate that waves observed along the Marmara shore may have been triggered by the quake.

Many residents of Istanbul, well aware of their nation’s tragic history with earthquakes, promptly evacuated buildings in the aftermath, video footage indicates.

The last significant quake occurred in February 2023 in the south of Turkey and neighboring Syria, claiming over 60,000 lives.

Seismologists warn that a catastrophic “big one” could strike northern Türkiye at any moment, as Istanbul lies in close proximity to the North Anatolian Fault line.

The tremors on Wednesday were reportedly felt in nearby countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.