5.9 Magnitude Quake Rocks Northwestern Turkey
A powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Golyaka, Duzce province in northwestern Turkey early this morning, rattling buildings and sparking panic across the region.
Damage Limited But Fear Runs High
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) confirmed the epicentre was in Golyaka district. “We almost completed our checks in the villages around Golyaka. There is no severe damage reported; only some barns were wrecked in these places,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told TRT Haber.
Despite minor structural damage, a courthouse lost its exterior cladding and parts of the roof, while a two-storey shop collapsed on a narrow street, Haberturk TV reported. A power outage hit the area but is now being fixed.
50 Injured Mostly From Panic
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca first reported 35 injuries on Twitter, later updated to 50. Most were hurt during the chaos after the quake, often from jumping out of balconies or windows. “One of the injured is in serious condition,” Soylu said.
Aftershocks and Widespread Tremors
The quake hit at 04:08 local time (01:08 GMT) and was felt as far as Istanbul and Ankara. Dozens of aftershocks followed, including a strong 4.3 magnitude tremor.
In Golyaka, residents gathered in the main square, some wrapped in blankets handed out by emergency services, as tensions remained high following the early-morning quake.
