Warnings After Sındırgı Earthquake: Professors Say Sındırgı Fault is Raging

WISE NEWS PRESS / BALIKESIR, TURKEY — Nov. 10, 2025

A new M4.9 earthquake struck Sındırgı district of Balıkesir tonight at 8:20 PM, bringing the ongoing 'swarm' of tremors in the region back into focus, with the total number of quakes since August approaching 17,000.

The intense seismic activity has raised serious concerns among experts. High Geological Engineer Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ercan warned that the "Sındırgı fault is raging, and its direction has turned toward Balıkesir," estimating that a possible new major earthquake would not exceed M6.2 but could be destructive.

Similarly, Prof. Dr. Okan Tüysüz, a member of the Science Academy, emphasized that the tremors exceed the normal course of events, stating, "This long duration and high number of aftershocks is excessive for two M6.1 earthquakes."

'The Sındırgı Fault Is Raging'

In a statement on his social media account, Prof. Ercan used the phrase "The Sındırgı fault is raging," indicating that the fault has "surprisingly" changed direction and begun moving towards Balıkesir. Ercan stated that in the event of a new major earthquake, it would not exceed M6.2, but warned that this would mean destruction for Sındırgı.

Prof. Ercan drew attention to the shifting nature of the activity, noting that the aftershocks on the Sındırgı fault have been progressively growing in magnitude. Ercan reported, "Today, there were three progressively increasing aftershocks on the Sındırgı fault: M4.7, M4.8, and 10 minutes ago, M4.9."

Direction Shifts to Balıkesir: The M6.2 Limit

Ercan shared his most critical analysis, revealing that the direction of the earthquakes has changed. Recalling that the aftershocks of the M6.1 earthquake on October 27 were concentrated in the southeastern section, Ercan stated, "This time, the consecutive aftershocks are surprisingly developing towards the northwest, that is, in the direction of Balıkesir."

Prof. Dr. Ercan noted that predicting whether a major earthquake would follow these aftershocks is generally impossible according to geophysics. However, he provided a clear limit for a possible scenario: "If it happens, I do not expect it to exceed M6.2."

Ercan warned that the real danger begins at this point, saying, "If an earthquake of this magnitude occurs again after the two previous M6.1 earthquakes, the rate of destruction in Sındırgı homes will increase significantly."

Urgent Call for Relocation

Stating that Sındırgı's current building stock cannot withstand another major tremor, Ercan made a vital appeal to citizens: "I urge the public not to enter homes that have not received engineering services, and especially to understand that moderately or slightly damaged houses are not safe for occupancy."

He called for immediate government action: "The damaged areas in Sındırgı should be relocated to Düvertepe in the northeast as soon as possible. Please let science be your guide so that no one dies in future earthquakes."

Prof. Dr. Tüysüz: This is Excessive

Meanwhile, Geological Engineer Prof. Dr. Okan Tüysüz, a member of the Science Academy, also commented on the earthquake this evening via his social media account.

Stating that the number of earthquakes in Sındırgı is rapidly approaching 17,000, he said, "The last earthquake was M4.9, followed by M3 and M3.7 tremors. I wish patience to the local people. Stay away from damaged buildings. This long duration and high number of aftershocks is excessive for two M6.1 earthquakes."

Tüysüz continued: "The cause of the Sındırgı earthquakes must be determined, and no new settlement plans should be made beforehand. Detailed geological, geophysical, and geodetic studies should reveal subsurface and surface deformations. Research began immediately in Santorini when an earthquake swarm started there."

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