Turkey earthquake caught live on TV: News anchor's on-air reaction goes viral
Istanbul: A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul on Wednesday, jolting Turkey's largest city and sending shockwaves of panic across the region. The epicentre was located beneath the Sea of Marmara, near the Silivri district on the European side, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake struck just before 1 pm local time and was felt widely across western Turkey, rattling buildings, setting off car alarms, and prompting evacuations. At least 236 people were injured, most due to panic-induced falls, jumps from buildings, or anxiety-related episodes, officials said. Fortunately, no fatalities or major structural damage were reported.
Anchor's on-air earthquake moment goes viral
The tremor was captured live on CNN Turk, where anchor Meltem Bozbeyoglu was on air when the studio began to shake. Visibly startled but composed, she addressed viewers in real time:
'A very strong earthquake is happening right now in Istanbul. We felt it terribly,' she said, adding, 'I'm 32 years old, and this is the first time I've experienced such a big earthquake.'
As the shaking intensified, Bozbeyoglu briefly paused, asked a colleague through her earpiece, 'Can you reach my mother?' and requested a WhatsApp message. Moments later, she turned back to the camera:
'I was frightened. I apologise if I made you panic.'
Her real-time reaction struck a chord online and quickly went viral, highlighting the emotional toll the quake took on Istanbul's residents.
City on high alert
Istanbul, a city of around 16 million people, lies along the seismically active North Anatolian Fault. The Governor's Office confirmed that no residential buildings had collapsed, except for an abandoned structure in the Fatih district. Critical services—including energy, transportation, and water supply—remained operational.
Thousands of residents evacuated homes, offices, and schools, crowding into open spaces such as parks and schoolyards. Some even set up tents in case of aftershocks.
Experts warn of bigger quake ahead
Prominent Turkish geologist Naci Gorur warned that Wednesday's quake was likely not the 'main event,' stressing that Istanbul remains at risk of a magnitude 7 or higher quake in the near future.
The incident has revived memories of the devastating February 2023 earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey, killing more than 53,000 people and leveling thousands of buildings. While Istanbul was spared at the time, that catastrophe raised alarms about the city's vulnerability to a similar disaster.
Authorities monitor aftershocks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Zelensky says ready for meeting with Putin, Trump, Erdogan 'any day'
4 June 2025 17:22 Kyiv (AFP)Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that he was ready to hold a meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump "any day". "We are ready for such a meeting any day," Zelensky told reporters at a press conference in Kyiv, adding that he was proposing that a ceasefire be put in place before any such summit, which would also include Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Right-wing Nawrocki wins Polish presidential poll by narrow margin
Every election in Europe is now turning out to be an existential battle between liberals and conservatives, between pro-European Union (EU) and Euro-sceptics. After the Romanian presidential election, where the pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan clinched the election over the anti-EU conservative George Simion. Dan won a comfortable 54 per cent of the vote, though it was not overwhelming one in his support or for liberalism. The conservatives lost but they are in the field. In Poland, it was the turn of the conservative Karol Nawrocki who edged past his liberal rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, by a narrow margin. Nawrocki got 50.82 per cent of the vote. But the Euro-sceptics were happy. George Simion, who was the runner-up in the Romanian election, wrote on X, 'Poland WON'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Nawrocki's win a 'fantastic victory'. The political divisions are sharp across the national boundaries in Europe. Nawrocki is opposed to refugees, and in Poland the refugees are from Ukraine. Nawrocki will inevitably be at loggerheads with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's liberal Civic Coalition. Tusk has been trying to reverse the previous conservative government's judicial reforms which raised objections from the European Constitutional Court. It said the process of the appointment of judges does not ensure impartiality of the judges. The conservatives think it is interference from Europe. Nawrocki has already declared that he intends to protect Poland's sovereignty and support laws that favour the Polish. As president, Nawrocki has but little leeway in thwarting the liberal government. The presidential veto can be overturned by a specific majority rule of parliament. But Prime Minister Tusk does not command the required majority in parliament. It is because of the shortfall in the parliamentary numbers, that Nawrocki's predecessor, another conservative, Andrzej Duda, was able to block the reformist legislation of Prime Minister Tusk. The divisions seem to be almost evenly balanced, with conservatives accounting for half the electorate, and the liberals comprising the other half. A 32-year-old IT specialist, Patryk Marek, summed it up well: 'Everything was on a knife edge. Feelings are for sure mixed for this moment. But how small this margin was, it tells us how divided we are almost in half as voters.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she believed EU's cooperation with Poland will continue. She is a conservative herself but a nuanced one, and quite opposed to the right-wing nationalism dominating European politics. Krzysztof Izdebski, director of think-tank Batory Foundation commented, 'Trump will have more to say in Polish politics.' It is a reference to the fact that European nationalists and right-wingers are inspired by US President Donald Trump's worldview and his electoral success. European conservatives are indeed on the rise and riding a success wave in many countries in France, in Italy, Germany, and in many of the former Soviet satellite countries in Eastern Europe. The success of the right-wing parties is mainly due to the economic crunch that most European countries are witnessing, where lack of growth is affecting the job market and it is increasing the frustration of the people. The right-wing politicians are directing this frustration and anger on to the immigrants. Turning away the immigrants will not put Europe back on the path of economic growth. And the right-wing governments and leaders have no easy answers or plans to boost economic growth. It is the same problem that Trump is facing in America. With his tariff wars and his hostility towards immigrants, he is not able to turn around the American economy. And that is the reason that many of the Americans who had voted for Trump are disappointed with him. The same challenge awaits right-wing governments in Europe as well.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Etihad Airways and STARLUX Airlines sign strategic codeshare partnership
4 June 2025 11:53 NEW DELHI (ALETIHAD)Etihad Airways has signed a strategic codeshare agreement with Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines, expanding customer access to Northeast Asia and strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a gateway between East and partnership, announced at the International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, enables Etihad customers to connect seamlessly to key Japanese cities including Nagoya, Sapporo, and Fukuoka via Taipei, whilst offering STARLUX passengers direct access to Etihad's European network through Abu will launch daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Taipei on September 7, 2025, operated by Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The new route creates the foundation for the codeshare partnership, positioning Taipei as a gateway for Etihad's expansion into Northeast customers booking through and the airline's mobile app will benefit from streamlined travel with single-ticket bookings, coordinated check-in processes, and automatic baggage transfers to final destinations across STARLUX's Asia-Pacific agreement also opens new pathways for STARLUX passengers to reach European destinations, including Prague, Madrid, and Barcelona via Abu Dhabi, positioning the emirate as an attractive transit hub for Asian travellers bound for airlines will launch joint marketing initiatives in Taiwan and establish a reciprocal frequent flyer programme by year-end, allowing Etihad Guest members to earn and redeem miles across both Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, Arik De, said, "This partnership with STARLUX Airlines opens new market opportunities in Northeast Asia, giving our customers access to Japan's key business and leisure destinations through Taipei. STARLUX Airlines' reputation for premium service aligns perfectly with our standards, and together we're offering travellers more choice and convenience when connecting across three continents."Chief Strategy Officer of STARLUX Airlines, Simon Liu, said, "Our partnership with Etihad Airways marks a significant milestone in STARLUX Airlines' global expansion, laying the foundation for future European routes. As one of the Middle East's leading carriers, Etihad is globally recognised for its innovation and premium service, values that strongly align with the STARLUX brand. By leveraging Abu Dhabi's role as a major hub, this codeshare allows us to rapidly extend our network into Europe, offering passengers a wider range of travel options. We also look forward to deepening collaboration on mileage accrual and premium services to ensure an exceptional experience for customers."The codeshare agreement builds on Etihad's strategic network expansion, which has seen the airline grow to serve over 90 destinations worldwide. The partnership with STARLUX further demonstrates Abu Dhabi's appeal as a premium transit destination, offering travellers world-class facilities at Zayed International Airport alongside the option to extend layovers with Etihad's complimentary Abu Dhabi Stopover programme. Codeshare flights will be available for booking through the Etihad app, and travel partners, with services expected to commence following regulatory approvals.
