Turkey earthquake caught live on TV: News anchor’s on-air reaction goes viral

Istanbul: A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul on Wednesday, jolting Turkey’s largest city and sending shockwaves of panic across the region. The epicentre was located beneath the Sea of Marmara, near the Silivri district on the European side, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake struck just before 1 pm local time and was felt widely across western Turkey, rattling buildings, setting off car alarms, and prompting evacuations. At least 236 people were injured, most due to panic-induced falls, jumps from buildings, or anxiety-related episodes, officials said. Fortunately, no fatalities or major structural damage were reported.

The tremor was captured live on CNN Turk, where anchor Meltem Bozbeyoglu was on air when the studio began to shake. Visibly startled but composed, she addressed viewers in real time:

“A very strong earthquake is happening right now in Istanbul. We felt it terribly,” she said, adding, “I’m 32 years old, and this is the first time I’ve experienced such a big earthquake.”

As the shaking intensified, Bozbeyoglu briefly paused, asked a colleague through her earpiece, “Can you reach my mother?” and requested a WhatsApp message. Moments later, she turned back to the camera:

“I was frightened. I apologise if I made you panic.”

Her real-time reaction struck a chord online and quickly went viral, highlighting the emotional toll the quake took on Istanbul’s residents.

Istanbul, a city of around 16 million people, lies along the seismically active North Anatolian Fault. The Governor’s Office confirmed that no residential buildings had collapsed, except for an abandoned structure in the Fatih district. Critical services—including energy, transportation, and water supply—remained operational.

Thousands of residents evacuated homes, offices, and schools, crowding into open spaces such as parks and schoolyards. Some even set up tents in case of aftershocks.

Prominent Turkish geologist Naci Gorur warned that Wednesday’s quake was likely not the “main event,” stressing that Istanbul remains at risk of a magnitude 7 or higher quake in the near future.

The incident has revived memories of the devastating February 2023 earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey, killing more than 53,000 people and leveling thousands of buildings. While Istanbul was spared at the time, that catastrophe raised alarms about the city’s vulnerability to a similar disaster.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said initial inspections found no damage to highways, airports, railways, or subway systems. Emergency crews continue to survey affected areas to ensure safety and assess potential risks.