An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck western Turkey with buildings destroyed and residents trapped in the rubble.

Turkish authorities said the quake occurred at around 7.53pm local time in the Balikesir province, near Turkey's biggest city of Istanbul

At least one property was destroyed, with emergency services working to rescue people from the rubble.

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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media that emergency teams had started inspections around Istanbul and the neighbouring provinces but that no negative reports had come through so far.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) registered the earthquake's magnitude at 6.19 and a depth of 10 km.

Sındırgı Mayor Serkan Sak told local media six people had been living inside one of the buildings collapsed to the ground by the seismic activity in Turkey this evening.

He said: "We reached and rescued four of them, we are trying to reach and rescue two people."

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The country's disaster ministry (AFAS) said there had been an additional seven aftershocks of 3.0-magnitude following the initial 6.1-magnitude tremor.

A spokesman from the ministry said: "On August 10, 2025, at 7.53 PM, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir province.

"The earthquake was felt in the provinces of Manisa, İzmir, Uşak, and Bursa. To date, a total of seven aftershocks exceeding magnitude 3.0 have occurred.

"Field surveys are currently ongoing. AFAD Provincial Directorates in Çanakkale, İzmir, Afyonkarahisar, Uşak, Bursa, Sakarya, Kütahya, Bilecik, Manisa, and Kocaeli have dispatched personnel and vehicles to support search and rescue efforts.

The statement continued: "The Turkish Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) has been activated, and representatives of all disaster groups will meet at the AFAD Disaster and Emergency Management Center."