5.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northwestern Turkey Near Simav

In the northwestern part of Turkey on Sunday, September 28, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred, which, according to preliminary data, caused no fatalities. The tremor was recorded in the town of Simav, Kütahya Province, at a depth of about 8 km. The time of the event was 12:59 local time, after which an aftershock of magnitude about 4.0 was observed.

The earthquake was also felt in Istanbul, the economic capital of Turkey, located about 100 km north of the epicenter, indicating a wide radius of the quake’s influence.

Turkey sits on active tectonic fault lines, which is why such underground tremors occur quite often, even within a single country.

Nature of the Event and Historical Context

In August 2025, in Balıkesir Province, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake was recorded; according to preliminary data, one person died, at least 29 people were injured, and the extent of the damage is being assessed. In February 2023, a strong magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern and southeastern regions of Turkey, taking the lives of more than 53,000 people and destroying or damaging hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 provinces; another around 6,000 died in northern Syria.

The situation is currently under control: response services continue to assess possible damage and the needs of the population, and local authorities coordinate actions to provide assistance and ensure safety at the sites after the quake.