Chaos erupted on live television as a 6.2-magnitude earthquake sent tremors through Istanbul, cutting through a Turk broadcast and leaving anchor Meltem Bozbeyolu visibly shaken during a live interview. The quake, which struck Turkey's capital with terrifying force, saw residents fleeing into the streets and frantically calling loved ones. Bozbeyolu, caught in the heart of it all, raised her trembling hand on air and appeared on the verge of tears as the studio shook around her.

After attempting to pause the segment, the presenter's panic took over as she pleaded with a producer: "Can you reach my mother?" Despite the ordeal, Meltem continued with the broadcast, seen taking deep breaths before bravely flashing a thumbs-up to the camera. Dramatic footage from nearby buildings showed desks and chairs rattling violently while panicked workers evacuated. The powerful quake struck at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometres in the Sea of Marmara, according to the United States Geological Survey.

It was followed by three significant aftershocks, ranging from 4.4 to 5.3 in magnitude, centred in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district.

Tremors were reportedly felt as far as Bulgaria, while multiple neighbouring Turkish regions experienced shaking.

Istanbul's Metropolitan Municipality said no serious structural damage had been reported across the sprawling city of 16 million.

"Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing," the regional governor's office confirmed.

But seismic experts warned the danger isn't over. Dr Süleyman Pampal, a top professor in Istanbul, issued a grim warning that stronger quakes could follow, potentially wreaking devastation.

Tragically, broadcaster TGRT reported that one person had already been injured after jumping off a balcony during the quake - which struck while the country was observing a public holiday.

One decorator who bolted from a fourth-floor flat told reporters: "I just felt earthquake, I've got to get out."

Turkey's interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said the quake lasted a total of 13 seconds at a depth of seven kilometers, with 51 aftershocks recorded so far, the largest of which was of 5.9 magnitude.

"Let's not let down our guard against possible aftershocks," Yerlikaya said on X.

Turkey sits atop two major fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.

Just two years ago, a catastrophic 7.8-magnitude quake killed more than 60,000 people across southern Turkey and northern Syria.

Heartbreaking scenes from that disaster showed a massive rupture in the Earth's crust, while overwhelmed rescue teams were forced to bury victims in mass graves marked with numbers due to the overwhelming death toll.

Harrowing earthquake images showed mass graves marked with just numbers after it became impossible to identify all bodies.

Many survivors of that quake were left without homes, enduring bitter winter nights in makeshift shelters. A gas pipeline burst at the time also sparked a towering inferno that reached 100 feet into the air.