• A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Balikesir province, Turkey.
• Felt across multiple cities, including Istanbul and Izmir, with reports of building collapses.
• Resulted in one fatality and nearly 30 injuries.

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey's northwestern Balikesir province on Sunday evening, with the epicenter located in the town of Sindirgi. The earthquake was felt as far away as Istanbul and Izmir, leading to damage and panic across multiple cities, according to Indiatimes and TRT Global.

The tremor occurred at 7:53 PM local time, leading to about 16 buildings collapsing in Sindirgi, including a three-storey structure where an 81-year-old woman later died after being rescued from the debris. Authorities reported that around 29 individuals sustained injuries, but most were not in critical condition, as noted by Dawn and Al Jazeera.

Rescue operations were quickly mobilized, with the Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD) confirming that efforts were underway to reach trapped individuals within the rubble. The incident was marked by emergency team responses in various locations, as reported by Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya assured that the situation was being monitored closely and confirmed multiple aftershocks, the largest measuring 4.6. Every resident was advised against entering any damaged buildings, building on Turkey's extensive history of seismic activity, documented as a result of its position atop significant tectonic fault lines, as emphasized by Le Monde and BBC.