What to Do When There Is an Earthquake | Türkiye Emergency Safety and AFAD Guide

If an earthquake is happening in Türkiye, drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops. This is the Turkish preparedness instruction Çök–Kapan–Tutun. Indoors, take cover beneath a sturdy table if one is within reach. Stay away from glass, bookcases and unsecured furniture. Do not run down the stairs, use a lift, stand on a balcony or jump from a window during shaking.

After the shaking stops, assess injuries and immediate dangers, leave a potentially damaged building by a safe route, and move toward your designated AFAD assembly area. Watch for aftershocks, falling building material, broken glass, exposed electricity, gas hazards and damaged roads. If a person is trapped or seriously injured, call 112, Türkiye’s unified emergency number. Keep ordinary voice calls short and use text messages for nonurgent family updates where possible.

This guide is for residents, parents, students, workers and visitors in Istanbul, İzmir, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Adana, Bursa, the Aegean and eastern Türkiye and other earthquake-prone areas. Official instructions from AFAD and local emergency authorities take priority. The guide explains the first seconds, the first hour, the first day and the safe return, including what to do in apartments, hotels, schools, vehicles and coastal locations. It is preparedness information, not a live earthquake prediction or current damage report.

Quick answer: immediate earthquake actions

During shaking indoors: Çök–Kapan–Tutun. Drop, cover the head and neck, shelter under sturdy furniture if nearby, and hold on.
Avoid dangerous movement: do not run to stairs, use the lift, crowd an exit, go onto a balcony or jump from a window.
If outdoors: move away from buildings, walls, poles, glass, cables, trees and unstable slopes when safely possible; protect your head.
If driving: slow smoothly and stop in a suitable safe place without blocking traffic, avoiding bridges, buildings, trees and overhead lines where possible.
When shaking ends: put on shoes, check injuries, watch for structural and gas hazards, and leave unsafe buildings using a safe exit.
If near the sea after strong or prolonged shaking: consider tsunami danger and move inland or to higher ground using official coastal evacuation routes once you can move safely.
Go to a designated assembly area identified by AFAD or the local authorities, not a place chosen simply because it looks open.
For urgent fire, ambulance or rescue needs, call 112; share exact address and trapped-person details.
Expect aftershocks: stay away from damaged buildings and follow updated restrictions.
For ordinary family messages: use SMS or internet-based messaging if available, keeping telephone lines available for rescue.

These priorities follow AFAD’s earthquake preparation guidance and AFAD’s before, during and after advice.

What Çök–Kapan–Tutun means

Çök means drop down to a low position. Kapan means cover or protect yourself, especially the head and neck. Tutun means hold on to a stable support. The sequence keeps you low, reduces the chance of falling and protects vulnerable body parts while items are moving around you.

If there is a sturdy table nearby, go underneath and hold on to it. If you cannot reach a table safely, move as little as possible, crouch and shield your head and neck away from windows, tall cupboards and hanging fixtures. For people with mobility impairments, protect the head and neck and use the safest available stable position rather than trying to imitate an unsafe movement.

The idea is not to find a magic location that guarantees survival. Every building and earthquake is different, and collapsing structures can defeat any improvised protection. The purpose is to reduce immediate injury risk while the building is shaking, then make safer decisions once movement ends.

AFAD explicitly warns against rushing toward the stairs or exits during shaking, using elevators, going onto balconies and jumping from windows. A few seconds spent attempting to escape through falling debris can be more dangerous than taking protective cover.

Indoors: living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens

At home, falling books, glass, mirrors, kitchen objects and unsecured furniture can cause injuries. Know in advance where sturdy cover is available, which shelves are tall and whether the bed lies below hanging objects. During shaking, immediately protect your head instead of running from room to room to inspect what is happening.

If you are sleeping and there is no immediate threat such as falling glass above you, protect your head with a pillow or bedding and avoid unnecessary movement until the shaking stops. Afterward, put on footwear before walking through broken glass. Keep a torch by the bed so you do not need to walk in darkness.

In a kitchen, avoid moving toward sharp objects, gas flames and heavy equipment. Do not stop to turn off a burner in the middle of dangerous shaking if doing so requires crossing the room. After shaking, deal with utilities only if they can be reached safely and no gas hazard makes operating switches dangerous.

A home can appear visually intact while its structure, piping or stairwell has been damaged. Do not make a casual visual judgment that a cracked building is safe for overnight occupancy.

Apartments and high-rise buildings

In a high-rise apartment, the building may sway and some floors may experience different shaking. Residents should protect themselves where they are during movement, rather than racing toward the staircase or lift. Glass façades, unsecured cabinets and suspended lighting create immediate risks.

Once shaking has stopped, look for obvious falling material and damage before leaving. Follow building or local authority evacuation instructions and use a designated safe stairway if available. Avoid elevators after a significant earthquake, especially if the building’s power and lift system have not been checked.

Do not linger near a building’s external façade or in a narrow street between damaged buildings after exiting. Facade panels, glazing, masonry and signs can fall during aftershocks. Move toward an officially identified gathering place.

If you smell gas, leave the immediate danger area. Avoid flames, smoking and electrical switching around a suspected leak. Alert the responsible emergency service or utility provider from a safer location.

Outdoors: streets, parks and building entrances

If you are outside when strong shaking starts, protect your head and create distance from structures or items that may fall when you can move safely. Building walls, balconies, glass signs, poles, cables and tall trees can create hazards. In a narrow street, there may be no completely safe location, so use the best available protected space and minimise exposure.

Do not rush toward a building doorway or stand beneath projecting balconies. If you are on a slope, keep alert to rockfall, retaining wall failure and ground movement. An earthquake can trigger landslides as well as damage buildings.

After shaking, avoid walking directly under damaged façades simply because the normal pavement is open. Look for official street closures and routes to nearby assembly areas. Do not step over broken utility cables or enter an excavated or cracked road.

A public square can serve as a gathering area only if it is actually suitable and not threatened by surrounding structures or other hazards. AFAD’s official assembly mapping is preferable to an arbitrary location selected during an emergency.

Driving during an earthquake in Türkiye

If shaking begins while driving, slow down in a controlled way and stop in a safe position when possible without blocking the road. Avoid stopping under a bridge, beside a steep slope, next to an unstable wall or beneath trees and power lines. Do not make a sudden unsafe manoeuvre that could cause a collision.

If traffic is moving in a built-up area, be aware that other drivers may be disoriented and that road surfaces may crack. Follow traffic police and emergency services instructions. Do not accelerate into a tunnel or across a bridge simply to reach a familiar destination.

After a major quake, road access may be restricted for ambulances, rescue vehicles and infrastructure inspections. AFAD advises avoiding unnecessary driving in the early period so emergency vehicles can move.

If you are travelling with children or an older passenger, assess their immediate condition before proceeding. A journey that looks possible on a navigation app may lead toward a damaged bridge or closed road. Verified road access is more important than an estimated arrival time.

Metro, trains, buses and trams

On public transport, hold a secure handrail or support, protect your head and follow staff instructions. Do not force a train door open or step onto tracks during or immediately after a quake. Railway electrical systems, adjacent tracks and tunnel conditions can create dangers that are not visible to passengers.

Transport operators may stop services for safety inspection. A stationary train does not automatically mean passengers should leave it. Listen to station or vehicle announcements and wait for directions about whether to remain inside or evacuate through a controlled route.

At stations, avoid crowd crush at stairways and exits. Move calmly once there is a safe route. If announcements are in Turkish and you need another language, ask staff for a clear instruction rather than making an independent decision to enter a restricted platform.

Delays and lost reservations are less important than avoiding an unsafe tunnel, escalator or bridge.

Schools, universities and childcare

Students should practise a short earthquake instruction beforehand: “Drop, protect your head and neck, hold on, then follow the teacher when shaking stops.” The teacher should manage the group as a unit rather than having students rush toward a crowded exit.

After the shaking, school leaders should assess immediate hazards and follow the institution’s evacuation plan and local authority instructions. A schoolyard may need inspection for adjacent walls, trees or building debris. The designated assembly point must be appropriate for that school.

Parents should avoid making separate unsafe trips through damaged roads to collect their children. Schools should communicate where students are, who is responsible and how reunification will take place. Mobile networks may be congested, so short text messages can be more reliable than repeated calls.

A child requiring medicine, mobility support or sensory assistance needs a plan that works when lifts are disabled, rooms are noisy and the normal caregiver is absent.

Offices, factories, laboratories and hospitals

Workplaces may have heavy shelving, overhead equipment, glass partitions or machinery that can fall or move during an earthquake. Employees should take protective cover first instead of rushing to shut down every process during shaking. Where specific industry equipment poses an immediate danger, follow the established site safety plan.

After shaking, designated safety officers should assess exits, utilities, fire risks and damaged equipment before staff resume work. A factory floor may appear stable while cranes, storage racks or hazardous materials remain unsafe. Do not permit untrained employees to approach suspected chemical spills or compromised electrical systems.

Hospitals and medical facilities require specialised continuity and evacuation arrangements. Patients may not be able to move immediately; staff should follow trained facility emergency procedures. A generic public evacuation rule should not be applied mechanically to every patient or critical-care ward.

The practical lesson is that protection during shaking and site-specific decisions afterward are two different stages.

AFAD’s earthquake assembly areas: where should you go?

Türkiye has designated Afet ve Acil Durum Toplanma Alanı—disaster and emergency assembly areas—intended for people to gather safely after an event. You can identify assembly areas through the official e-Devlet assembly-area lookup.

Look up your home, workplace and children’s schools before an earthquake. Know how to reach the designated area by walking, including a backup route if the usual street becomes blocked. The destination should be treated as an emergency planning resource, not simply a public park chosen without checking nearby buildings.

An assembly area differs from longer-term accommodation. Authorities may later direct families to a specific temporary shelter or another facility. Follow current AFAD and local government announcements about where to go and which services are actually operating.

If your designated assembly area is blocked by debris, damaged buildings or a hazard, do not force your way through. Seek an official alternative or safer temporary location and communicate your situation when possible.

How the AFAD Acil mobile app can help

Türkiye’s AFAD Acil mobile application has been designed to support emergency communication, location sharing and information about assembly areas. The official description includes one-touch emergency contact functions, location services and map access.

The app should be installed, configured and understood before a disaster where possible. Emergency communications may be affected by network congestion, electricity outages or device damage. An app does not guarantee rescue or replace a household’s written plan.

Learn which functions require registration, mobile data or location permission. Keep emergency contact details accessible offline as a backup. A child or older relative should not be expected to operate a complicated app for the first time while under stress.

Use 112 for actual emergency rescue or medical needs. For routine family status, use short messages and avoid repeated unnecessary voice calls.

Earthquake information: official data is not a prediction

AFAD publishes information about recorded earthquakes, including location, depth and magnitude. Its latest-earthquakes list is an official observation product. It does not tell you that a damaging earthquake will strike a particular building on a specified date.

Magnitude describes an earthquake’s overall size, whereas local shaking intensity and damage can vary with distance, geology, building characteristics and other factors. A magnitude number alone is not proof that your apartment has been cleared for re-entry.

Do not use a social-media account’s predicted date to decide whether to sleep outdoors, cancel school or evacuate a neighbourhood. Follow verified AFAD and local authority instructions for actual damage, access and safety. Do not confuse an aftershock observation with a forecast of the exact next event.

A useful post-earthquake update contains source, time, place and action. It should not claim certainty that the science does not provide.

The first ten minutes after shaking

Once the ground stops moving, check yourself for injuries and then those near you. Pay attention to broken glass, fallen furniture, damaged electrical wiring, smoke or gas smell, and unstable building elements. Do not walk barefoot through debris.

If an exit is safe and authorities or building guidance call for leaving, take essential supplies already available and use stairs rather than lifts. Do not stand beside cracked exterior walls while waiting for companions. Move toward the designated assembly point by a safe route.

If someone is seriously injured or trapped, call 112 and report the exact location and circumstances. Perform basic first aid only when safe and within your training. Avoid moving someone with potentially serious injury unless necessary to escape immediate danger or directed by medical responders.

Aftershocks can occur before everyone has finished evacuating. Keep head protection handy and move away from structures that could drop material during another tremor.

Aftershocks: why the hazard continues

Aftershocks are additional earthquakes that may occur after a larger event. They often become less frequent overall as a sequence evolves, but there is no exact schedule that identifies when each will happen. A weakened building may be less able to withstand subsequent shaking.

Do not enter a damaged building simply because there have been several quiet hours. A crack, leaning wall, unstable staircase or displaced structural member requires appropriate safety assessment. An apartment’s intact front door does not establish the condition of its supports or neighbouring walls.

If an aftershock starts while you are indoors in a safe building, return to Çök–Kapan–Tutun. If you are already outside, stay away from damaged structures, overhead lines and other possible falling objects.

Follow official closure, inspection and shelter directions even when they inconvenience everyday activities. Re-entry is a safety decision, not a reward for waiting a particular number of hours.

Earthquakes and coastal tsunami danger

Türkiye has coastal communities along the Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea and other sea-connected regions. Some offshore earthquakes or associated events can create tsunami hazards, although most earthquakes do not produce damaging tsunamis.

If you are in a low-lying coastal location and experience strong or prolonged shaking, protect yourself during the shaking, then move promptly away from the shoreline and toward designated higher ground or an official tsunami evacuation location when safe to move. Do not wait for the sea to retreat visibly or a wave to appear.

Follow official tsunami messages and local evacuation signs. A tsunami can involve several surges and dangerous currents; do not return to beaches, river mouths or harbours until the responsible authorities give an all-clear.

The same event may require different actions at different moments: take cover during shaking, then evacuate coastal tsunami exposure afterward. AFAD explicitly includes coastal tsunami precautions in its earthquake guidance.

If you smell gas after an earthquake

Gas leaks are a serious secondary danger after earthquakes. If you smell gas or suspect damaged pipes, avoid sparks, smoking, matches, lighters and electrical switches. Leave the danger area as quickly and safely as possible and notify the relevant emergency service or utility provider from outside.

Only shut a gas valve if you can do so safely and it does not expose you to the leak. Do not turn an electrical device on or off in the suspected area. Do not attempt to test a leak with a flame. Professional inspection may be necessary before reoccupying the building or reconnecting appliances.

A gas incident may occur even when exterior walls look undamaged. Pipes, joints and utility connections can shift. People returning after a quake should respect utility restrictions and building management instructions.

Do not ask children to investigate an unusual smell or search for the leak. Get them to safety and seek help.

Fire, water supply and electrical hazards

Earthquakes may damage electrical distribution, plumbing, gas supply and road access simultaneously. Water may leak into electrical equipment, and power may return unexpectedly. Avoid downed cables, wet switches, exposed panels and damaged appliances.

After reaching safety, listen for municipal information about drinking water and sanitation. Clear-looking tap water is not necessarily safe after infrastructure damage. Follow official boil-water or alternative-source instructions, recognising that boiling does not remove many chemical contaminants.

Food safety can also be affected by outages, broken glass and contaminated storage areas. Discard food exposed to dangerous contamination and follow local public-health guidance before using freezers or cooking equipment that may have been damaged.

The immediate sequence is human safety, emergency response, safe utilities and water, then property repair. Reversing that order creates preventable danger.

What to do if someone is trapped under rubble

Contact 112 and provide an exact address, district, landmarks, the last known location of the person and any audible signals. Keep a safe distance from unstable debris. Trained urban search-and-rescue teams use specialised methods because rubble movement can cause further collapse.

If you are trapped, conserve energy and avoid actions that could shift heavy debris above you. Cover your mouth and nose from dust if possible. Signal with a whistle, tapping or brief calls when rescuers may hear you. Use a phone or message if it works, including location and injuries.

Do not ignite matches or lighters, which may create fire risk around unknown gas and dust conditions. Avoid continuous shouting that exhausts you and exposes you to more dust.

Untrained relatives should not dig into unstable multi-storey collapse debris when professional response is available. Providing accurate information and keeping access clear can be a more valuable contribution than creating additional casualties.

The first hour: family communication and meeting

Families can become separated among schools, workplaces, transport and homes. Before an earthquake, choose an out-of-area contact who can receive simple updates. After shaking, send a short message: who is safe, where they are, where they plan to go and when they can next communicate.

Do not saturate telephone networks with repeated nonurgent calls. AFAD recommends using SMS or internet-based messaging where possible so emergency calls have a better chance of connecting.

If your family agreed to meet at an assembly area but the route is unsafe, do not cross rubble or closed streets merely to reach the original meeting point. Report your alternate safe location to the common contact.

A child should know that remaining with school staff in the designated safe area may be safer than attempting to walk home independently through damaged roads.

Infants, older adults and disability access

Evacuation may be difficult for someone who uses a wheelchair, cannot descend stairs or depends on an electrically powered medical device. Prepare an assistance plan in advance, including who can help, the necessary equipment and an alternate route if a lift is unavailable.

For infants, keep appropriate feeding, hygiene and medication supplies ready. For a person with diabetes or another ongoing medical need, carry a medicine list and know which healthcare facility or support service can help if the usual pharmacy closes.

If emergency assistance is needed, tell 112 precisely what help is required: “four people on the fifth floor, one cannot walk down the stairs” is more actionable than simply saying “we need evacuation”.

Do not carry or transfer someone in a manner that risks a fall or serious injury merely to follow a generic instruction. Seek professional or local emergency guidance for complex mobility needs.

Visitors staying in hotels and short-term rentals

A visitor may not know Turkish, the nearby assembly area or the building’s exit arrangement. When checking into accommodation, identify the emergency stairs and ask about the property’s earthquake plan. Keep a passport copy, medication, shoes and phone accessible.

During shaking, do not run down the corridor to reception. Take protective cover where you are. Afterward, follow staff and local authority instructions on exiting and assembly. Avoid lifts and damaged stairways. Keep away from glass doors and façades.

Do not allow a check-out time, flight ticket or travel reservation to dictate a dangerous journey. A hotel remaining open does not prove that surrounding roads and transport links have been inspected.

For nonurgent visitor assistance, contact your accommodation or travel organiser after reaching safety; use 112 for actual emergencies.

Choosing the right preparation bag

AFAD recommends a disaster and emergency kit suited to the first period when services may be disrupted. It should contain practical essentials rather than an unrealistic load that is difficult to carry out of an apartment.

Safe drinking water and suitable ready-to-eat food.
Necessary medications, prescriptions, glasses and essential medical supplies.
Identification, important documents and family contact information.
A flashlight, spare batteries, radio or another alert source, phone and power bank.
Basic first aid, suitable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.
Hygiene items, infant supplies and accessibility equipment as needed.
A whistle or simple signalling device if available.
A written assembly point and an alternate family contact.
Pet carrier or lead and necessary animal supplies where appropriate.
Small cash and keys if readily accessible.

The bag is not the action during shaking. Take cover first. Collect the bag after movement stops if it is safe and does not delay evacuation.

Why furniture anchoring matters before a quake

Preventing falling furniture injuries is one of the most practical home improvements. Tall cabinets, bookcases, televisions and heavy objects can fall or slide, blocking exits or injuring people. Secure them appropriately to structural supports according to manufacturer and professional instructions.

Move heavy items off high shelves. Avoid positioning tall unsecured furniture next to beds, children’s play areas or doorways. Check overhead lighting and hanging objects. Teach household members where the best cover is available in each common room.

Do not modify load-bearing columns, walls or other structural elements without appropriate engineering and permits. AFAD emphasises that unsafe structural alterations can compromise building performance.

An inspection of building seismic performance requires qualified expertise. A visually tidy apartment and a newly painted façade do not establish earthquake resistance.

A household earthquake drill that can actually work

Practice a short sequence in every room: Çök–Kapan–Tutun, then identify the safe route and designated assembly area after the imagined shaking ends. Include nighttime conditions, broken glass, a blocked corridor and a family member who needs assistance.

Do not make children rush down stairs during an earthquake drill as if stair running were protective. Teach the distinction: cover during shaking, assess and exit afterward according to safety guidance.

Agree on how to communicate if someone is at school or work. Keep emergency numbers and assembly information available offline. The family should know which parent or adult is responsible for infants or dependent relatives when the main caregiver is absent.

A drill can also reveal practical problems: shoes stored far from the bed, a heavy cupboard beside the exit or an assembly point nobody can identify. Fixing those issues before a quake improves preparedness.

What is safe to do the next day?

The next day may bring restrictions, aftershocks and uncertainty about housing, water, transport or schools. Use official notices rather than returning to ordinary routines automatically. A building may require inspection even if some neighbours are entering it.

Prioritise safe accommodation, medical care, clean water and accurate communication. Record property damage only where it is safe to do so. Avoid entering damaged stairwells or crossing restricted areas to retrieve electronics or schoolbooks.

Keep family members informed of whereabouts, especially if authorities move people from assembly areas to temporary shelters. Do not assume a temporary relocation creates automatic eligibility for every relief benefit; verify current AFAD and local authority programmes.

Recovery is not defined by the disappearance of tremors from the news. It is the restoration of safe buildings, services and daily care.

Scenario 1: an Istanbul apartment during strong shaking

Imagine a family in a sixth-floor Istanbul apartment. A cupboard moves and the building sways. The adults and children immediately get low beside or under suitable sturdy furniture, cover their heads and hold on. They do not rush toward the lift.

After movement stops, they check for injuries, put on shoes and look for gas, structural and stairway dangers. Following the building and authorities’ guidance, they use a safe exit and move away from the façade toward their designated assembly area.

This is a fictional instructional example, not a report of an actual earthquake. The lesson is to separate immediate protective cover from later building evacuation.

Scenario 2: a university student on a bus

A student is on a bus when an earthquake is felt. The bus stops safely, and passengers hold onto their seats or rails while shaking continues. They do not jump from the vehicle into traffic.

Once the movement ends, the driver and local authorities assess whether passengers should remain or move to a safer place. The student sends a short text to family rather than making repeated phone calls during emergency network congestion.

The important distinction is follow transport staff and avoid creating a secondary traffic or crowd danger.

Scenario 3: visitors on the Aegean coast

A group of visitors near an Aegean beach feels strong, prolonged shaking. During the shaking they protect themselves from falling material. As soon as they can move safely, they follow coastal evacuation signs to higher ground rather than waiting for a wave to appear.

They remain away from the coast and follow official tsunami information. Even if the sea looks calm, they do not go back for bags or photographs until the responsible authority has cleared the area.

This example is fictional. Its point is that coastal earthquake safety may require a second rapid decision after the shaking.

Scenario 4: a neighbour trapped under fallen debris

After a quake, a resident hears a trapped person’s calls from a heavily damaged building. Instead of climbing into unstable rubble, the resident calls 112, gives the street and exact last known position, and directs rescuers from a safe place.

They share useful information about how many people may be inside and keep bystanders away from the danger area. If responders ask for specific safe assistance, they follow instructions.

The lesson is that accurate location and safe coordination can save time without creating another casualty.

Common earthquake mistakes in Türkiye

Running toward stairs during shaking. Protect yourself with Çök–Kapan–Tutun until movement stops.
Using a lift after a large quake. Power and lift systems may be unreliable or damaged.
Standing on a balcony to look outside. Balconies and falling glass can be dangerous.
Treating a door frame as universally safe. Follow stable cover and head-protection guidance instead.
Rushing into the street while façades are shedding debris. First survive movement; then select a safe exit.
Entering a cracked building because no aftershock happened for several hours. Inspection and official clearance matter.
Using a lighter to check gas pipes. Flames can create an explosion risk.
Assuming coastal calm rules out a tsunami. Follow natural warning signs and official coastal guidance.
Making repeated unnecessary calls. Preserve capacity for rescue and use messages for routine updates.
Driving to every family member immediately. Roads may be damaged and are needed for emergency response.
Trusting an exact-date prediction shared online. An observation catalogue is not a prediction service.
Treating a public park as a confirmed assembly area. Use designated AFAD assembly locations and current local instructions.

Frequently asked questions

What is Türkiye’s earthquake safety instruction?

Çök–Kapan–Tutun: drop, protect your head and neck, and hold on until shaking ends.

What emergency number should I call after an earthquake?

112 is Türkiye’s unified emergency number for urgent rescue, ambulance, fire and related emergencies. Give accurate location details and keep calls brief.

How do I find my earthquake assembly area in Türkiye?

Use the official e-Devlet AFAD assembly-area search or official local authority guidance, preferably before any event.

Is a building safe if no damage is obvious outside?

Not necessarily. Hidden structural or utility damage may exist. Follow official building closure and inspection instructions.

Should I run outside when the ground starts shaking?

No. Indoors, protect yourself during shaking and avoid stairs, lifts, balconies and jumping from windows.

Will every earthquake cause a tsunami on Türkiye’s coast?

No. Most do not, but coastal strong or long shaking may require prompt movement away from the shoreline and following official tsunami instructions.

Can aftershocks be predicted by the hour?

There is no reliable timetable for individual aftershocks. Stay clear of damaged structures and follow AFAD information.

What if I do not speak Turkish?

Learn essential terms deprem (earthquake), toplanma alanı (assembly area), acil (emergency) and Çök–Kapan–Tutun. Follow hotel or transport staff and local authority instructions; call 112 for actual emergencies.

Official Türkiye earthquake resources and related eduKate guides

Editorial review: 5 November 2026. This article provides general earthquake preparedness, not a live seismic forecast, building inspection or rescue service. Always follow current AFAD and local emergency authorities.