A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Sindirgi region in Balıkesir, northwest Turkey, on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 00:24 local time, as reported by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of approximately 11.04 kilometers, which is considered relatively shallow, enabling a widespread felt response across various areas.
The quake was recorded at 5.1 magnitude by some international monitoring sources, while preliminary data from the Kandilli Observatory indicated a reading of 5.2, with slight variations in measurements depending on the seismic monitoring sources.
According to the monitoring data, residents felt the tremor in nearby cities and provinces, including Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Yalova, and Kütahya, despite some of these areas being far from the quake’s epicenter.
So far, there have been no official reports of casualties or significant material damage as a result of the earthquake, according to Turkish officials. AFAD teams and relevant authorities began field surveys immediately following the tremor to assess the situation in the affected regions.
Earthquake waves in Turkey are attributed to its location above major geological fault lines, the most significant of which is the North Anatolian Fault, known to be one of the most active fault systems in the Mediterranean region, making the country susceptible to repeated seismic activity of varying intensities.
