A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck Istanbul and surrounding areas, making it one of the strongest quakes in recent memory for the city of 16 million people. The epicenter was in the Sea of Marmara, near Silivri, about 50 miles west of the city.

The tremor, lasting 30 seconds, caused buildings to sway and panicked residents to flee into the streets. Over 51 aftershocks were recorded, including one as strong as 5.3. While there were no reports of major damage, 151 people were injured, mainly from jumping out of buildings in fear. Fortunately, none of the injuries were critical.

The earthquake occurred during a public holiday, and was felt as far away as Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia. Local authorities urged residents to avoid potentially damaged structures as a safety precaution.

Though Istanbul avoided widespread destruction, the incident reignited fears of a major future quake, which experts say has a 65% chance of occurring by 2030, potentially affecting up to 600,000 buildings. The city lies near major fault lines, making it highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

This quake brings back memories of the 1999 Izmit earthquake, which killed 17,000 people, and last year’s 7.8-magnitude disaster that claimed over 53,000 lives in Turkey and 6,000 in Syria.