A moderately strong earthquake shook the western province of Çanakkale on Monday evening, leading to the death of one person due to the panic caused by the tremor, Turkey’s health minister announced.
Fahrettin Koca announced on X that a person who had jumped off his second-floor balcony in neighboring Bursa province had succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said the magnitude 4.9 earthquake was centered in Çanakkale’s Yenice district and struck at 9:38 p.m. The quake was followed by several aftershocks and was felt in nearby provinces.
Although Turkey is located on several major fault lines and is one of the most seismically active regions in the world, the country’s preparedness for earthquakes is questionable.
More than 53,000 people were killed in February of last year, when two powerful earthquakes struck southern and southeastern Turkey, causing widespread devastation and leaving at least 1.5 million people homeless.
Even when moderate earthquakes hit, casualties are caused by the ensuing panic, with people jumping from windows or balconies to save their lives.
Experts say people should be trained on what to do during an earthquake and how to stay safe in its aftermath.