20.05.2026 10:50
The 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Malatya caused widespread fear in the region. It was revealed that geologist Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy had warned of a possible earthquake in a broadcast two weeks ago, drawing attention to the Battalgazi fault line. In that broadcast, Üşümezsoy said, "The Pötürge fault was loaded with stress during the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, and January 20, 2020. Due to this stress, there could be a 6.5 magnitude earthquake there, or if that doesn't suffice, earthquakes could occur in the surrounding sections toward Battalgazi."
Following the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Malatya's Battalgazi district, statements made by Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy approximately 2 weeks ago have come back to the agenda. In a broadcast on Üşümezsoy's personal YouTube channel, he was seen drawing attention to the Battalgazi line.
“WE EMPHASIZED THAT EARTHQUAKES WOULD OCCUR IN THE SECTIONS HEADING TOWARDS BATTALGAZİ”
Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy used the following expressions in his evaluation during the broadcast:
“The earthquake that occurred in Sivrice in 2020 emptied its site in the area where the Sivrice lake, the Doğanyol bend, and the Euphrates bend are cut by the fault in Doğanyol. The extension of this 6.8 magnitude earthquake had an extension towards Pötürge. However, because the rupture was insufficient or did not occur, a stress, seismic gap or stress remained in Pötürge. Due to that stress, we emphasized that a 6.5 magnitude earthquake could occur there, or if that does not cover it, the sections around it heading towards Battalgazi would have earthquakes.”
“EARTHQUAKES ARE OCCURRING ON THE BATTALGAZİ LINE”
Üşümezsoy made the following evaluation in the continuation of his statement:
“But in this case, as seen, earthquakes are occurring parallel to the Pötürge fault, on the northern Battalgazi Line. This shows that the fault passing through and north of Pötürge, as an unfinished area between the Sivrice and Gölbaşı earthquakes of February 6, 2023 and January 20, 2020 on the Pötürge fault, is still seen as loaded with stress.”
5.6 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE IN MALATYA
According to AFAD data, the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred at 09:00 in the Battalgazi district of Malatya was also felt in surrounding provinces. The tremor, which occurred at a depth of approximately 7 kilometers, caused short-term panic in the region.