Recent earthquakes in Turkey
Turkey is crossed by two major strike-slip systems, the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault, as the Anatolian Plate is squeezed westward between the Arabian, African, and Eurasian plates. The North Anatolian Fault has produced a westward-progressing sequence of large earthquakes over the past century. In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the East Anatolian Fault struck the Kahramanmaraş region. In the past 24 hours, Turkey has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Turkey have so many earthquakes?
The Anatolian Plate is being pushed westward as the Arabian Plate collides with Eurasia, sliding along the North Anatolian and East Anatolian faults. These long strike-slip faults store and release strain in large, shallow earthquakes.
How active is the North Anatolian Fault?
Since 1939, the North Anatolian Fault has ruptured in a series of major earthquakes that stepped progressively westward toward Istanbul. This pattern is why the Marmara segment near Istanbul is watched so closely.
What was the biggest recent earthquake in Turkey?
On February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near Kahramanmaraş on the East Anatolian Fault, followed hours later by a magnitude 7.5 event. Together they killed more than 50,000 people across southern Turkey and Syria.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.