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A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck western Türkiye early Tuesday, the latest in a series of tremors that have rattled the Sindirgi district over recent days, according to Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
The quake hit at 12:02 a.m. local time with its epicenter in Sindirgi, a district in Balikesir province, AFAD reported on its website. The tremor occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers.
The earthquake follows a busy seismic period in the same area. On Monday evening, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake shook the region at 9:20 p.m., felt across western Türkiye including in Istanbul. That quake was preceded by a magnitude 3.8 tremor at 6:20 p.m. and followed by another measuring 3.6, according to AFAD data.
Following Monday's tremors, seismologist Prof. Dr. Ovgun Ahmet Ercan noted a concerning shift in the earthquake sequence. He said the recent tremors have changed direction compared to earthquakes that struck on Oct. 27.
"Today on the Sindirgi fault, there were three aftershocks of magnitude 4.7, 4.8, and 10 minutes ago 4.9, progressively increasing," Ercan said. "While the Oct. 27 earthquakes occurred in the southeastern section, these successive aftershocks are surprisingly developing toward the northwest, toward Balikesir."
When asked whether a larger earthquake could follow the aftershocks, Ercan said making such predictions would be unscientific. However, he added: "If it happens, I don't expect it to exceed 6.2."
The seismologist recalled that Sindirgi has experienced two previous magnitude 6.1 earthquakes. "If another large earthquake occurs after the previous two 6.1 earthquakes, the rate of destruction in houses in Sindirgi will increase greatly," he said.
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Ercan warned residents about buildings that sustained damage in the recent tremors, urging people to avoid structures that have not received proper engineering assessment.
"I want to inform that houses that have not received engineering services should not be entered, especially moderately or lightly damaged houses are not safe for living," he said. "The damaged areas in Sindirgi should be relocated to Duver Hill in the northeast as soon as possible by the state."
No immediate reports of casualties or major damage were available from authorities in the affected areas.
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