18.07.2026 14:21
Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, Director of the Izmir Dokuz Eylül University (DEU) Earthquake Research and Application Center (DAUM), evaluated the magnitude 5 earthquake that occurred in Malatya and said, 'Looking at the location of the earthquake, it shows that it remains at the north-northeastern end of the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake surface ruptures. This means we can say that today's earthquake is a triggered one.'
DEÜ DAUM Director and AFAD Science Board Member Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir evaluated the earthquake that occurred this morning in Malatya's Battalgazi district.
Prof. Dr. Sözbilir stated, "According to AFAD data, an earthquake of magnitude 5 occurred today at 06:20 centered in Malatya-Battalgazi. National and international seismology centers indicate that the earthquake originated from an oblique fault with a left-lateral component. Our initial assessment shows the earthquake occurred on the Uluova-Yeşilyurt Fault Zone. When we look at the earthquake's location, it appears to be at the north-northeast end of the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake surface ruptures. This suggests that today's earthquake was a triggered earthquake."
"EARTHQUAKES OF SIMILAR MAGNITUDE MAY RECUR"
Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir continued his remarks as follows:
"In the region between Yeşilyurt and Kale, where the earthquake's epicenter is located, there are many fault segments. On these fault segments, we will continue our studies by traveling to the area with our team from Elazığ-Fırat University and İzmir-Dokuz Eylül University as part of the TÜBİTAK-KAMAG and AFAD-UDAP projects led by Prof. Dr. Ercan Aksoy and Dr. Serap Çolak Erol. Based on our studies so far within these projects, we have determined that earthquakes with surface faulting have occurred in the past in the Kale-Yeşilyurt region. Therefore, it can be predicted that earthquakes of similar magnitude may recur in the area."