What the record shows for Turkey
The strongest earthquake on record near Turkey is a magnitude 7.8 in 2023, centred Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence - 3 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1,081 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 444 km of Turkey - roughly 54 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 17 tsunamis within 444 km of Turkey between -2000 and 2023. The most significant was in 115 near Antakya (Antioch), triggered by an M7.5 earthquake, which killed around 260,000 people.
6 volcanoes are catalogued near Turkey, including Acigol-Nevsehir, Erciyes Volcanic Complex, Gollu Dag, Hasandag-Keciboyduran, Karapinar Field, Unnamed. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Turkey straddles the North Anatolian and East Anatolian faults, the source of its most devastating earthquakes.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Turkey.
Earthquake risk in Turkey - FAQ
Is Turkey at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 54 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 444 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.8 in 2023.
What was the biggest earthquake in Turkey?
The strongest earthquake on record near Turkey is M7.8, in 2023 (Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence), from USGS.
Does Turkey get tsunamis?
Yes - 17 tsunamis since 2000 BC (most recently 2023) within 444 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 260,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Turkey?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.