14.09.2025 17:50
Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy, who accurately predicted the recent earthquakes in Turkey, evaluated the seismic activity in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir. Üşümezsoy stated that the aftershocks experienced in Sındırgı do not pose a significant risk of a major earthquake, emphasizing that the real danger lies with the Simav Fault, which has the potential to produce an earthquake of magnitude 6.8.
Geology expert Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy, who accurately predicted the recent earthquakes in Turkey, made striking evaluations regarding the fault lines in the region following the earthquakes that occurred in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir.
"AFTERSHOCKS IN SINDIRGI ARE NOT A RISK"
Evaluating the earthquakes in Sındırgı from a technical perspective, Prof. Dr. Üşümezsoy stated that the tremors occurred at a depth of approximately 8 kilometers in the southern part of the main fault in the region. He mentioned that a fault segment approximately 20 kilometers long, extending in an east-west direction, had broken, emphasizing that this rupture passed through a 600-meter mountain structure.
Emphasizing that the earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 6.1 and that there was an approximate 20-centimeter displacement (offset), Üşümezsoy stated that this movement shifted the Sındırgı block towards the foot of the mountain, but in some areas, this movement remained more limited. Üşümezsoy said, "This is why aftershocks are occurring. This magnitude does not pose a risk for Sındırgı."
"AFTERSHOCKS MAY BE FELT MORE STRONGLY, BUT THEY ARE NOT DANGEROUS"
Prof. Dr. Üşümezsoy expressed that aftershocks that are sometimes felt more strongly are also natural. He noted that small fault lines (slip faults) extending parallel to the main fault in the south of Sındırgı could amplify the effects of these aftershocks. He stated, "Earthquakes occurring in these secondary faults may be felt at around magnitude 5, but this does not pose a serious threat to the region," emphasizing that the public should not panic.
THE REAL DANGER: SIMAV FAULT
Clearly stating that there is no expectation of a major earthquake in Sındırgı, Üşümezsoy expressed that attention should be directed towards the Simav Fault. He mentioned that the Simav Fault is still accumulating a significant amount of energy and has the potential to produce an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 to 6.8. Reminding that the Gediz, Demirci, and Sındırgı faults have released their energies in the past, Üşümezsoy pointed out that the Simav segment has still not ruptured.
EXPLAINED WITH A BULB METAPHOR
To make the dynamics of earthquakes more understandable, Üşümezsoy compared the faults in the region to "bulbs" and made the following explanation: "The Gediz Fault broke in 1971 with a magnitude of 7.1 earthquake, meaning the first bulb lit up. In 1965, there was a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Demirci, and the second bulb went out. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Simav in 2011 only lit a dim light; it has not fully lit up yet. Finally, Sındırgı broke. Only Simav remains. The danger is here now."
"THE REGION NEEDS TO BE MONITORED"
Üşümezsoy also stated that despite the potential danger of the Simav Fault, this does not mean that an earthquake will occur immediately. "We are not talking about a short-term risk, but the region needs to be monitored," the expert reiterated that the aftershocks in Sındırgı are not a precursor to a major earthquake.