One dead, dozens injured as 5.8-magnitude earthquake Turkish coast of Marmaris

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Marmaris region in southwestern Türkiye in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in the death of a teenager and injuries to dozens and prompting concern among seismic experts.

The tremor, which occurred at 02:17 a.m. local time, was felt across several southwestern provinces, including Muğla, İzmir, Aydın, and Antalya.

According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the epicenter was located in the Mediterranean Sea near the district of Marmaris in Muğla Province. The quake occurred at a moderate depth and sent shockwaves inland, triggering panic among residents.

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, a 14-year-old girl, Afranur Günlü, died after suffering a panic attack, and around 70 others were injured in Muğla province as people rushed to safety, Yerlikaya said on X (formerly Twitter). Most injuries occurred when individuals jumped from heights in fear.

The quake, which struck at a depth of 67.91 kilometers and was centered 10.43 kilometers from Marmaris, caused widespread panic but no reported building collapses, according to initial assessments.

Yerlikaya stated that 46 people remain hospitalized in emergency units, 14 were treated at the scene, and eight were discharged after receiving outpatient care.

“In Fethiye, 14-year-old Afranur Günlü was hospitalized following a panic attack, but despite all efforts, she sadly passed away,” he added.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), along with other agencies, continues to assess the area. Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum confirmed there has been no detected structural damage so far and extended condolences to Afranur's family while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Muğla province, home to popular tourist destinations such as Marmaris, Bodrum, and Fethiye, attracted 3.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, according to state-run Anatolu Agency.

The earthquake was also strongly felt in Greece's Dodecanese islands. Efthymios Lekkas, head of the Greek National Earthquake Protection Organization, told enikos.gr that tourists in Rhodes were evacuated from hotels, but no injuries were reported.

The tremor was also detected in Egypt, the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics confirmed.

Seismologists noted that the quake occurred near the Marmaris Fault Zone, a seismically active boundary between the African and Anatolian tectonic plates. Professor Hasan Sözbilir of Dokuz Eylül University warned that this undersea fault is capable of producing earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7 and stressed the need for mapping and monitoring underwater fault lines as part of Türkiye’s national earthquake preparedness plan.

Earthquake expert Şükrü Ersoy added that the depth of this quake helped limit its impact on the surface but cautioned that the region remains capable of much stronger tremors.

Experts advised residents to avoid damaged structures due to the risk of aftershocks, which could reach up to magnitude 5.

In comparison, a 6.2-magnitude quake off Istanbul’s coast in April injured at least 236 people, primarily due to panic. That earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks.