Turkey earthquake flattens buildings in north-east Balikesir province

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province on Sunday evening, killing an 81‑year‑old woman and injuring 29 others. The quake, centered in the town of Sindirgi, caused 16 buildings to collapse and was felt as far as Istanbul. Search and rescue operations have ended, with officials reporting no further casualties, though images show severe destruction, the BBC has reported. Turkey, located on multiple tectonic plate boundaries, frequently experiences earthquakes, including the 2023 disaster that killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and 5,000 in Syria.