16.02.2026 08:21
The earthquake notification caused unease in Istanbul. After the warning message that arrived on mobile phones during the night, there was a brief panic, and posts on social media asking "Did anyone feel it?" increased. AFAD announced the time, epicenter, and magnitude of the tremor.
A large number of mobile phones in Istanbul received earthquake notifications at midnight, causing a brief panic. Many citizens were startled by the alert that came during their sleep, while social media was filled with posts asking, "Is there anyone who felt the earthquake?"
2.6 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE
According to the data from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), a tremor of 2.6 magnitude centered in Çatalca was recorded at 00:18 last night. The earthquake occurred approximately 9.75 kilometers below the ground, and this magnitude was felt slightly in surrounding districts.
NOTIFICATION CAUSED GREAT FEAR
The alert received by phones using the earthquake notification application caused fear and anxiety in many people, especially because it was at midnight. While some users stated that they did not feel any tremors, the alarm sound disrupted their sleep patterns.
AFAD announced that such alerts sent to smartphones match the official earthquake data from authorized institutions. The warning systems detect seismic movements and send automatic notifications, but it has been previously warned that some mobile applications could lead to false notifications with different data, causing panic.
Experts state that the messages transmitted by earthquake early warning systems to phones can make a difference even seconds before the tremor, depending on the magnitude and epicenter of the earthquake. These systems operate through settings activated by users on Android and iOS devices.