Türkiye hit by earthquake, Balikesir shaken up to 6.1 magnitude on October 27
Earthquake in Turkey on October 27 (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck Türkiye’s Balıkesir province on October 27. The tremors were felt in Istanbul, İzmir, Bursa, and several neighboring regions, according to CNN.
According to Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir province.
The 6.1-magnitude tremors were recorded at a depth of around 6 kilometers. Seismic activity was felt in many cities across the Marmara and Aegean regions, including Istanbul and İzmir.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that all rescue services and AFAD units immediately began surveying the affected areas.
“Our teams are conducting on-site inspections. I extend my support to all citizens affected by the earthquake. May the Almighty protect our country from disaster,” he said.
Damage and impact
According to official data, three residential buildings and one shop were destroyed by the earthquake. There are also reports of a partial collapse of an empty building that had already been damaged during previous tremors.
Experts emphasized that this is not an aftershock but an independent seismic event linked to activity along the southeastern segment of the fault line.
Seismologist’s comment
Professor Şener Uşumezsoy told CNN Türk that the Sındırgı earthquake was a triggering rather than a secondary. He explained that a fault line about 100 kilometers long is active beneath the earth’s surface.
“This is not the same segment where the previous quake occurred, but an adjacent one. The scenario resembles a chain reaction, where movement in one segment triggers motion in another,” the expert said.
He added that residents should not expect a stronger earthquake in this area. Uşumezsoy also emphasized that these tremors will not affect the seismic situation in the Marmara region and are not related to a potential earthquake in Istanbul.
Authorities’ response
Due to the risk of further tremors, all schools in Balıkesir suspended classes for one day. Rescue services are working on-site, inspecting buildings and engineering networks.
Türkiye has expressed readiness to join an international working group overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, highlighting its role as a mediator and guarantor of regional stability.
Additionally, in the Black Sea, Türkiye successfully tested the new GÖKSUR air defense system: the GÖKSUR IIR missile with infrared guidance hit a target at over 11 kilometers, confirming the effectiveness of the GÖKSUR 100-N vertical launch system developed by defense company ASELSAN.
