
6.1-magnitude quake hits Turkish province of Balıkesir
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Turkiye's western province of Balıkesir (Balikesir), resulting in one death and 29 injuries, the Turkish Interior Ministry reported on Monday.
The sole fatality was an elderly man who lost his life during a rescue effort, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. The injured are reported to be in stable condition.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the earthquake's epicenter was located 11 kilometers below the surface.
Following the initial quake, several aftershocks ranging from 4.0 to 4.6 in magnitude occurred, raising concerns among residents.
In response, authorities moved swiftly to assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected. Rescue teams remain active in the hardest-hit areas, while officials advise residents to avoid damaged buildings and exercise caution.
Turkiye has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent years. In April of this year, a 6.2-magnitude quake injured approximately 150 people. The largest, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February 2023, caused nearly 20,000 fatalities.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Unreal contrast: Mount Sakran's snow vs. Iraq's burning cities
Shafaq News Iraq is enduring one of its hottest summers on record—but on a remote northern mountain, the heat feels worlds away. Mount Sakran, located in the Juman district of Kurdistan Region's Erbil Province, remains snow-covered and brisk even into late July. While Iraqi cities like Baghdad, Basra, and al-Nasiriyah swelter under temperatures exceeding 50°C, Sakran holds steady between 10 and 20°C. The contrast is so dramatic, it's drawing waves of visitors chasing cold air and cascading waterfalls. 'We arrived today, and it's unreal—the air is icy, and snow still blankets the ground, while it's 48°C back home,' Jassem, a visitor from Baghdad, told Shafaq News. However, Sakran is more than a seasonal refuge. It represents one of the country's last surviving microclimates, shaped by high altitude, rugged geography, and the shelter of the Zagros Mountains, a major range spanning parts of Iraq, Iran, and Turkiye. Its endurance stands in stark counterpoint to much of the north, where snow cover has steadily vanished over the past two decades. Visit Kurdistan: Erbil Citadel gathers history and tourism According to the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology (IMOS), rapid snowmelt is disrupting river flows and putting downstream agriculture under increasing pressure. A 2023 report from the UN Environment Programme flagged snowpack loss as one of Iraq's most urgent climate risks. So far, Mount Sakran resists that trend—its resilience underscoring just how rare such stability has become in Iraq's changing climate. The sharp temperature divide is sparking more than fascination. Families from the south are making the trek north, desperate for relief from blistering heat and bone-dry cities. 'It's beautiful and freezing here,' Mustafa Ahmed from al-Sulaymaniyah told our agency. 'The weather is so much different from the city.'


Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
6.1-magnitude quake hits Turkish province of Balıkesir
Shafaq News – Ankara A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Turkiye's western province of Balıkesir (Balikesir), resulting in one death and 29 injuries, the Turkish Interior Ministry reported on Monday. The sole fatality was an elderly man who lost his life during a rescue effort, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. The injured are reported to be in stable condition. According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the earthquake's epicenter was located 11 kilometers below the surface. Following the initial quake, several aftershocks ranging from 4.0 to 4.6 in magnitude occurred, raising concerns among residents. In response, authorities moved swiftly to assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected. Rescue teams remain active in the hardest-hit areas, while officials advise residents to avoid damaged buildings and exercise caution. Turkiye has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent years. In April of this year, a 6.2-magnitude quake injured approximately 150 people. The largest, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February 2023, caused nearly 20,000 fatalities.


Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
Massive wildfires ravage Western US
Shafaq News – Colorado / California Wildfires raging across multiple US states have forced mass evacuations, destroyed homes, and stretched firefighting crews to their limits, local media reported Monday. In Colorado, the 'Lee' fire has consumed more than 167 square miles (433 square km) across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with containment at just 6%. According to state officials, all 179 inmates from Rifle Correctional Center were rescued and relocated to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, about 150 miles (240 km) away. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has also reported that more than 1,000 firefighters are working to prevent the blaze from crossing Colorado Highway 13 and County Road 5. Fueled by dense trees and brush roughly 250 miles (400 km) west of Denver, the fire ranks as the sixth-largest single wildfire in state history. In southern California, crews have contained 62% of the 'Canyon' fire, which has burned roughly 8 square miles (20 square km), destroyed seven buildings, and forced evacuations since it ignited last week near the Los Angeles–Ventura county line. Farther north, the 'Gifford' fire — California's largest this year — has scorched more than 180 square miles (466 square km) in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Wildfires in the western United States rise during summer months as dry vegetation, high temperatures, and strong winds fuel rapid fire spread. In 2024, the region saw more than 7.6 million acres (3 million hectares) burn, including five fires that each consumed over 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares).