A UK national visiting Turkey for breast augmentation surgery has reached out on social media requesting prayers after enduring a frightening earthquake. Identified as Courtney, she shared a video on TikTok under the handle @keepingupwithcourts following the 6.1 magnitude quake that struck the Balikesir area. Expressing her distress, she urged for support, mentioning the intense thunder and lightning accompanying the seismic event.
In Sindirgi, buildings collapsed, causing multiple injuries amid widespread panic. The quake’s impact extended to Istanbul, over 200 miles away from the epicenter. Courtney, unaware of the magnitude scale, recounted the previous 6.1 earthquake’s destructive consequences and highlighted the current challenges of severe weather conditions hindering their travel plans.
The earthquake, occurring at 1.048 pm local time (7.48 pm GMT) at a depth of 5.99 km (3.72 miles), triggered several aftershocks. Various structures, already weakened by a prior quake that claimed a life, suffered further damage. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties at the time, although 22 individuals sustained injuries from falls induced by panic.
Authorities, including District Administrator Dogukan Koyuncu, emphasized ongoing assessments to ensure public safety. Worried about aftershocks, many residents opted to remain outdoors instead of returning to potentially unsafe buildings. Due to the stormy conditions exacerbating fears of structural collapse, mosques, schools, and sports facilities were opened to offer refuge to those reluctant to go home.
Turkey’s geographical position atop significant fault lines makes earthquakes commonplace, with the recent fatal incident occurring in August.
