Buildings collapse, one killed after shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Balikesir, western Turkey
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Balikesir province in western Turkey at 16:53 UTC (19:53 local time) on August 10, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 8 km (5 miles).
Epicenter of M6.1 earthquake in western Turkey on August 10, 2025. Credit. TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 11 km (7 miles) SSW of Bigadic (population 15 242), 12 km (7.4 miles) NW of Sindirgi (population 10 907), and 48 km (30 miles) SSE of Balikesir (population 238 000), Turkey.
13 000 people are estimated to have felt severe shaking, 37 000 very strong, 178 000 strong and 770 000 moderate.
The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response.
Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Turkey.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and dressed stone/block masonry construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Initial reports indicate that about a dozen buildings collapsed in the Balıkesir area. At least two people were trapped in the rubble, while four others were rescued. In the nearby settlement of Gölcük, several houses collapsed and the minaret of the local mosque fell.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has urged residents not to enter damaged buildings. The region has experienced strong aftershocks following the main quake, with the largest reaching magnitude 4.6.
On Monday morning, August 11, authorities confirmed that 16 buildings collapsed, most of them older or derelict structures. Two mosque minarets were also brought down by the tremors. In the nearby settlement of Gölcük, several houses sustained major damage, and the minaret of the local mosque collapsed.
An 81-year-old woman rescued from the rubble later died from her injuries, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. 29 other people were injured, though none are in critical condition.
Search and rescue operations have since been completed, with no further casualties reported.
The quake was preceded by dozens of earthquakes with magnitudes up to 3.6 since M1.1 at 02:53 UTC on August 7.
Balikesir Province in western Turkey lies within one of the country’s highest seismic hazard zones, with both historical and recent records indicating significant earthquake risk.
According to the Turkish seismic hazard map, the province falls in the first-degree risk category, experiencing more than 90 earthquakes of magnitude M2.5 or higher annually.
The region is affected by the southern branches of the North Anatolian Fault and extensional structures of the Aegean region, which are capable of generating strong earthquakes.
Historically, Balikesir has experienced multiple destructive events, including the 1898 Balıkesir earthquake (M7.0) that killed around 500 people and destroyed nearly the entire city, the 1919 Ayvalık earthquake (M7.0) with approximately 3 000 fatalities, the 1944 Gulf of Edremit–Ayvacık earthquake (M6.7) which caused 73 deaths and triggered a local tsunami, and the 1953 Yenice–Gönen earthquake (M7.5) that killed more than 1 000 people.
Paleoseismological studies indicate that local fault systems such as the Havran–Balikesir Fault Zone are capable of producing earthquakes up to magnitude M7.2, with recurrence intervals estimated at 1 000–2 000 years.
Seismologists note that some sections may currently represent seismic gaps, increasing long-term hazard potential.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.0 earthquake Turkey – EMSC – August 10, 2025
2 M6.0 earthquake Turkey – USGS – August 10, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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