Deadly earthquake hits northwest Turkey

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake has struck northwest Turkey, killing at least one person and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse.

At least 29 people were injured when the quake hit Balikesir province at around 7.53pm (5.53pm UK time) on Sunday. It was powerful enough to be felt in several provinces and Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul, around 125 miles (200km) to the north.

Television footage showed rescue teams working through the night and asking for silence so they could listen for signs of life beneath the rubble. Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said an 81-year-old man died after being rescued from rubble by emergency teams in the town of Sindirgi, the epicentre.

Mr Yerlikaya said a total of 16 buildings collapsed in the region - most of them derelict and unused. Two mosque minarets also fell, he said.

AFAD, Turkey's disaster management authority, said the quake struck at a depth of 6.8 miles (11km). The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) registered the earthquake's magnitude at 6.19 and a depth of 6.2 miles (10km).

The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 4.6. Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent.

In April, more than 150 people were injured after a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul. A 7.8-magnitude quake hit Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing tens of thousands of people.

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