Istanbul to keep educational institutions closed following multiple earthquakes

Schools and universities across Istanbul will remain closed for the following two days in response to recent earthquakes that shook the metropolis on April 23.

The decision was announced by Türkiye’s Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, Caliber.Az reports citing TRT Haber.

According to Tekin, only a few schools sustained damage in the earthquakes yet the decision to close them was made at the request of the Interior Ministry, allowing the facilities to be used as gathering points in the event of any unexpected developments.

Both private and public universities will remain close for the period as well. The Head of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Erol Özvar, also confirmed that no reports of damages affiliated to these institutions have been recorded. The decision to close is linked to works being carried out that ensure that areas surrounding the campuses can be made accessible to the public.

Several dozen minor earthquakes hit Istanbul and its surrounding regions all through April 23. The first tremor was recorded at 13:13 and measured a 3.9-magnitude on the Richter scale while the strongest—a 6.2-magnitude quake—was recorded off the coast of Silivri. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Office of Istanbul Province stated that 151 people were injured as a result of panic-induced jumps from heights during the 6.2-magnitude quake. As of this moment, no fatalities have been reported, according to Turkish media outlets.

By Nazrin Sadigova