A 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Kulu, Turkey, on Thursday afternoon, about 14 km from the town. The quake, felt in the capital Ankara, happened around 3:46 p.m. local time, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. Despite strong tremors, there were no reports of deaths, injuries, or damage.
The earthquake is a clear reminder that Turkey is in an earthquake-prone area and shows why it is important to stay prepared and build strong, safe structures to reduce future risks.
The EMSC reported that the earthquake had a strength of 5.1 and was centered near Kulu in Konya province, southeast of Ankara. People in Ankara felt strong shaking, but local officials have not reported any serious damage so far. Turkey’s disaster agency, AFAD, keeps track of earthquakes and regularly shares updates. Since Turkey sits on the active Anatolian Fault System, small quakes happen often, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. This quake came just a day after a stronger 6.1 quake hit near Fry, Greece.
Turkey lies between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, which makes earthquakes common. In 2023, one of the worst earthquakes in Turkey’s history hit on February 6. A powerful 7.8 magnitude quake struck the southeast near Syria, followed by another at 7.5 magnitude. These quakes caused huge damage, killing over 59,000 people in Turkey and more than 8,000 in Syria. After this tragedy, awareness of Turkey’s earthquake risk grew, leading to stronger safety rules, better disaster planning, and improved building standards.
How to prepare for Earthquakes?
Since Turkey faces a high risk of earthquakes, it has created strong safety plans, led by AFAD, the country’s disaster management agency. AFAD runs emergency responses, teaches the public, and shares safety tips on its website (afad.gov.tr).
Turkey’s earthquake safety efforts include:
- Strict building rules to make structures safer.
- Early warning systems and earthquake tracking.
- Public education to help people know what to do during and after quakes.
- Regular practice drills and training for emergency teams.
Even with these steps, experts say it is important to stay alert—especially in big cities like Ankara, Istanbul, and eastern Turkey, where crowded areas and old buildings add extra danger.
The Turkish government is working to make the country safer from disasters by using new technology and teaming up with other countries. After the 2023 earthquakes, Turkey started:
- Fixing and rebuilding weak buildings faster.
- Improving teamwork with nearby countries for quicker disaster help.
- Spending more on research to better understand earthquake risks.
Turkey is also following global safety plans, like the Sendai Framework (2015–2030), and including them in its national policies.
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