26.02.2026 22:45
Professor Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, the Director of the Earthquake Research and Application Center at Dokuz Eylul University, stated regarding the 4.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş, "This earthquake is related to the Çardak Fault, which broke during the second main shock that developed 9 hours after the first main shock of the earthquakes on February 6, 2023. With these characteristics, the earthquake can be considered an aftershock of the second main shock. Earthquakes of similar magnitudes may occur in the region."
Professor Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, the Director of the Earthquake Research and Application Center at Dokuz Eylul University, stated that the 4.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş is related to the aftershocks of the earthquakes on February 6, 2023.
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş. The tremor occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers and was felt not only in Kahramanmaraş but also in Malatya, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, and Osmaniye. Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer stated in a press release that there was no negative situation.
FIRST ASSESSMENT FROM SÖZBİLİR
Sözbilir, who is also a member of the Earthquake Science Board of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), stated in a written statement that the 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred 5 kilometers north of Elbistan.
"CAN BE EVALUATED AS AN AFTERSHOCK OF THE FEBRUARY 6 EARTHQUAKE"
Sözbilir noted: "This earthquake is related to the Çardak Fault, which broke during the second main shock that developed 9 hours after the first main shock of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. With these characteristics, the earthquake can be evaluated as an aftershock of the second main shock. Since the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, the number of aftershocks has reached 100,000. It is expected that earthquakes of similar magnitudes will continue for a certain period in our provinces such as Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Malatya, Gaziantep, and Hatay."
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Sözbilir expressed that earthquakes of similar magnitudes are not expected to cause any loss of life or property, and emphasized the importance of the public not panicking and fulfilling the necessary actions at a certain level of disaster awareness during an earthquake.