The intensity at the epicenter of the earthquake near Istanbul reached level eight

Powerful earthquake shook the Marmara Sea 70 km from Istanbul with intensity of eighth level

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to TASS, underground tremors in the Marmara Sea reached the eighth level (VIII) on the Mercalli scale, which corresponds to a magnitude of 7 or higher. This information was provided by the Kandilli Observatory of Boğaziçi University in its preliminary report.

University experts emphasized that "according to the distribution map of the estimated intensity prepared by the observatory, the level of intensity felt at the epicenter of the earthquake was determined as VIII" out of 12 possible.

Seismologists classified the eighth level as a "powerful earthquake." "The closest place to the epicenter was Istanbul's Silivri district, with Marmara Ereğlisi, Büyükçekmece, and Beylikdüzü located a bit further. The distance to the center of Istanbul was approximately 69 km," the report states.

The natural disaster occurred on Wednesday at 12:49 (13:49 Baku time - ed.) in the Marmara Sea at a depth of 15.2 km with a magnitude of 6.2. Six minutes after the main shock, a warning was issued about a possible tsunami due to a recorded change in water level of up to 5 cm, but this threat was later lifted.

According to authorities, no serious destruction occurred, except for the collapse of one dilapidated uninhabited building. As a result of the incident, 240 people were injured, mainly due to panic during evacuation from buildings. The first powerful shock was followed by more than 130 aftershocks with magnitudes up to 4.9.