ISTANBUL, Apr 24 — A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Silivri in the Sea of Marmara approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Istanbul on Tuesday afternoon.

The quake was strongly felt across Istanbul and neighbouring provinces, including Tekirdağ, Yalova, Bursa, Sakarya, and Balıkesir.

The tremor, which lasted around 13 seconds, triggered widespread panic and was followed by 266 aftershocks, including a significant 5.9-magnitude quake and nine others above magnitude 4.

While no fatalities have been reported, 236 individuals were injured mainly due to panic-related incidents such as jumping from high places in an attempt to escape.

There have been no major reports of structural damage, though assessments are still ongoing. Hospitals and emergency services remain fully operational.

As a precaution, schools in Istanbul have been closed until Monday, 28 April 2025. Several educational institutions and government buildings have been opened as temporary shelters, providing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities and basic support to individuals hesitant to return home due to continuing tremors and anxiety.

Islamic Relief has confirmed that all staff members in Istanbul are safe and well, Alhamdulillah. Our team is actively monitoring the situation on the ground and remains ready to mobilize humanitarian support should the need arise.

In the aftermath of the quake, Türkiye’s national emergency response protocol was swiftly activated, with Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılayı) leading coordination efforts.

Emergency services were deployed to provide shelter, basic needs, psychosocial support, and WASH assistance to affected communities.

Islamic Relief continues to pray for the safety, strength, and resilience of the people of Türkiye during this challenging time.