A sleeping fault is waking up! Right next to Istanbul

The 3.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Pamukova district of Sakarya at 01:06 on the night of November 26, 2025, caused panic and sent citizens into the streets in a short time.

The Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute announced the magnitude of the earthquake as 3.2. Following the earthquake, citizens shared the fear they experienced throughout the night.

An important statement regarding the earthquake came from Earthquake Geology Expert Dr. Ramazan Demirtaş.

Demirtaş stated that the tremor occurred on the Iznik-Mekece segment of the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), saying, "Small-scale earthquakes in this region over the last two years show that this is the preparatory phase for major activity in the region."

THE FAULT THAT SHOWED ITS TRACE AFTER 965 YEARS IS BECOMING ACTIVE

Dr. Demirtaş stated that the Iznik-Mekece segment, which produced a major earthquake in Geyve in 1065, has not moved at all in the last 965 years and is currently in a "preparatory phase."

Demirtaş said, "These earthquakes can be considered as tremors occurring before a major earthquake." He stated that settlements in the region extending from Pamukova in the east of the Iznik-Mekece segment to the Gemlik Gulf in the west should be monitored carefully during this process.

WARNING FOR SETTLEMENTS IN THE REGION

Demirtaş stated that the increase in small earthquakes in the region over the last two years is an indicator that a major earthquake is approaching. For this reason, he pointed out that settlements within a 70-kilometer radius around the Iznik-Mekece segment must be made prepared for earthquakes. Emphasizing that buildings in areas such as Pamukova, Geyve, Iznik, and Gemlik, in particular, need to be strengthened, he said, "Necessary measures must be taken as soon as possible to make the structures in the region earthquake-resistant."