Panic in Istanbul After Strong Earthquakes Shake Silivri District
For anyone in Istanbul on April 23, 2025, the ground beneath their feet was anything but steady. In the middle of the day, at exactly 12:49 local time, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake sent shockwaves through Silivri and the wider region. Earlier, at least two other tremors—a 3.9 and a 4.4—jolted residents awake. The strongest quake had its epicenter deep below the Marmara Sea, about 70 kilometers west of central Istanbul, with its force reaching far beyond the city’s limits.
The sheer power of the quake was immediately clear. People rushed out of offices, apartments, and schools. Emergency alarms blared. Anxious crowds gathered in parks and town squares, phones clutched in their hands as they tried to reach loved ones. "It felt like a huge lorry sped under our building," one resident shared. Students, many in the middle of lessons, poured out of classrooms, adding to the chaos in the streets. The local governor quickly ordered schools across the Silivri district to stay closed for at least two days, a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A City on Edge: Aftershocks and Flashbacks
It wasn’t just a single shock—at least eight aftershocks rolled through the region, some reaching up to 5.9 in magnitude. Neighborhoods from the European to the Asian side of Istanbul felt the tremors. Reports came in from neighboring provinces, and even as far away as Izmir—550 kilometers to the south—and Sofia, Bulgaria. People living in high-rise buildings felt their apartments sway for what seemed like endless seconds.
Miraculously, the city appears to have escaped widespread destruction. The Interior Minister, Ali Gaya, went on local radio and reassured listeners: "There are no reports of major collapses." Just some minor damage—cracks in some older buildings, a few fallen bricks, scattered broken glass. Transport Minister Abdul Kadir Ura Loglu confirmed that Istanbul’s critical infrastructure, including bridges and overpasses, was inspected and left standing strong.
Still, the immediate aftermath brought its own troubles. Mobile networks were jammed, and for a while, calling family members or checking breaking news proved almost impossible. Many shared updates—or simply asked if others were okay—over messaging apps or gathered in person in open spaces to stay informed.
These events tore open memories of February 2023, when huge earthquakes hit southeastern Türkiye and took over 20,000 lives. Istanbul, sitting along the volatile North Anatolian Fault, has always known it sits on borrowed time. Last year's tragedy has left everyone a little more cautious, a little more anxious, every time the ground starts to shake.
Local authorities encouraged everyone to keep emergency kits handy and review evacuation plans. Disaster experts warned that aftershocks could keep coming for days. With Istanbul’s population topping 15 million, the fear of a much bigger quake never fully leaves. But for now, the city is counting its blessings and getting ready for whatever comes next.
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