site.btaMagnitude 4 Earthquake in Bursa Region Causes Panic

A magnitude 4 earthquake was registered at 1:43 pm local time in the city of Bursa, northwestern Turkiye. It was also felt in the Asian part of Istanbul. Local media reported that the earthquake also affected the neighbouring districts of Canakkale, Kocaeli and Balikesir.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said that the epicentre was in the Nilufer district of Bursa at a depth of 9.47 km.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey told the Olay TV channel in Bursa that there were no reports of casualties or damage. According to media reports, the earthquake was short but caused panic in Bursa and Istanbul.

Turkish seismologist Suleyman Pampal, who appeared live on CNN Turk, said that a faultline passes through Bursa that could cause a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5, and authorities need to pay attention to it. 

Bursa is in the area of ​​the North Anatolian Fault, which seismologists have recently warned has accumulated energy that could cause a strong earthquake.

In 1999, the North Anatolian Fault was the site of a catastrophic earthquake that claimed the lives of over 17,000 people, according to official statistics. According to unofficial data, the number of dead as a result of the earthquake is over 65,000, more than 100,000 were injured, and about 600,000 were left homeless.