If an earthquake is shaking your building in Türkiye, protect your head and neck immediately and use AFAD’s “Çök–Kapan–Tutun” approach: Drop, Cover and Hold On. If a sturdy table is close, get beneath it and hold on; otherwise get low in a safer position away from windows, unsecured furniture and falling objects. Do not race down stairs, use a lift, run onto a balcony or jump from a window during shaking. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency once you can safely use the phone.
After the shaking stops, inspect your surroundings for injuries, broken glass, unstable structures, leaking gas and falling masonry before moving. If the building is damaged or authorities direct you to evacuate, use a safe exit and move away from its façade to an authorised **AFAD emergency assembly area (*afet ve acil durum toplanma alanı*)**. Never enter a visibly damaged building to retrieve a phone or belongings. On an exposed coastline, strong or prolonged shaking can also indicate tsunami danger: move to designated high ground as soon as safe movement is possible.
Quick answer: An earthquake in Türkiye can occur without a useful countdown. Ground movement may be followed by falling objects, damaged utilities, structural hazards, blocked transport and aftershocks. Some districts experience much stronger local shaking than others from the same earthquake, and emergency access can vary. The first minutes are about protecting the body, then assessing safe movement. The following hours and days are about official information, shelter, medical care and avoiding unsafe buildings. No app or article can predict the precise time, place and magnitude of the next earthquake.
The first ten actions: a quick survival checklist
- **During shaking, Drop, Cover and Hold On (*Çök–Kapan–Tutun*).** Shield your head and neck against falling items.
- Do not rush to stairs or lifts. Moving through a damaged exit during shaking can expose you to falling glass and masonry.
- Stay away from windows, tall cabinets, heavy shelves and external façades. If outside, move away from signs, walls and falling items when safe.
- Once shaking stops, check injuries and safe exits; put on footwear if possible because glass may cover the floor.
- Leave a damaged building when you can move safely and follow authorised directions to a designated assembly area.
- If you smell gas, avoid flames and electrical switches. Leave if safe and notify 112 or the relevant professional service.
- Prepare for aftershocks. Stay away from weakened buildings, leaning walls and cracked retaining structures.
- Near an exposed coast, evacuate from tsunami-risk shorelines following strong or long shaking. Do not wait for an unusual sea movement.
- Use 112 for urgent rescue or medical emergencies. Keep nonurgent calls short because networks may be congested.
- Follow AFAD, local authorities and official earthquake information, not forwarded predictions of a “second quake at 4 p.m.”
Stage 1 — Before movement: know the hazards of the building and neighbourhood
Türkiye contains many active fault systems and regions with different earthquake exposure. Buildings also differ in age, construction, maintenance and seismic strengthening. The same earthquake can produce different experiences in Istanbul, Izmir, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Van, or a rural district.
Magnitude measures the earthquake’s overall size; seismic intensity describes shaking at a particular location. Local soil, earthquake distance and depth, topography and building properties influence the effects. A headline about a magnitude does not establish whether a particular structure remains safe.
AFAD recommends family disaster plans, securing heavy furniture and identifying suitable shelter positions. Read the official AFAD earthquake preparation guide before a crisis. Preparation also includes knowing where children will be collected, where someone using a wheelchair can take cover, and which family member needs help accessing a safe exit afterward.
Look up your designated emergency assembly location in advance through AFAD and the relevant public government services. An assembly area is not necessarily a building suitable for overnight accommodation. A school yard, park or open site must be assessed as appropriate for the local hazards and official plan.
Stage 2 — The earthquake begins: seconds, not a predictable countdown
A person may first hear creaking or see objects move. The motion might feel like a sharp jolt or a longer rolling movement. It may be difficult to walk or stand. No visible indication or audible sound reliably tells you how strong the event will become or how long the shaking will last.
AFAD’s emergency instruction is Çök–Kapan–Tutun: get low, cover the head and neck and hold to a stable object if available. A sturdy desk provides protection from many falling items. If no desk is nearby, use the safer space you can reach without crossing a hazard, with arms protecting head and neck.
Do not depend on a doorway being safe. Door frames differ by design and may expose someone to swinging doors, broken glass or collapsing wall material. Avoid standing under hanging fixtures or shelves. Never try to run across a shaking room solely to reach a distant piece of furniture.
A wheelchair user may lock the wheels if possible and protect the head and neck in the current location. Others should avoid carrying a person down stairs during severe shaking without a situation-specific emergency plan. Mobility support should be practised and discussed ahead of time.
Stage 3 — Different settings require different immediate choices
At home: cover from falling objects and stay away from glass. Do not attempt to retrieve a bag across a moving room. If in bed, protect the head and remain away from glass and falling shelves as far as possible.
At school: follow the teacher and the institution’s disaster procedure. Students need a practised protective movement and a post-shaking assembly plan. Running into a corridor during movement can crowd a dangerous route.
In a high-rise: protect yourself where you are and do not use elevators. Long-period building movement may feel different from the motion at ground level. Afterward, follow building staff and local authority instructions about stairways and evacuation.
At a market or shop: keep away from glass-fronted displays and unstable racks. Do not push through a crowd toward a doorway while fixtures are falling.
Outdoors: move away from building façades, balconies, walls and utility lines if you can do so safely. A narrow street lined with tall buildings may expose people to falling fragments.
Driving: slow carefully, stop in a safe place away from bridges, overhead hazards and falling debris, and obey traffic instructions. Avoid stopping abruptly in a live traffic lane.
No single action is optimal in every location. The principle is always to reduce exposure to falling or collapsing objects without entering a new hazard.
Stage 4 — The shaking stops: do not assume every exit is safe
A few quiet seconds do not guarantee that the emergency is over. First check yourself and nearby people for injuries. Put on sturdy shoes if possible. Look for falling items, broken glass, damaged stairs, blocked doors, new cracks and unstable façades.
AFAD recommends leaving the building after shaking ends when safe to do so and moving to the designated assembly area. If the exit route is damaged, do not force your way through collapsing stairs or exposed electrical systems. Seek emergency instructions and an alternative safe route. Avoid lifts.
If you smell gas, do not light matches, operate electrical switches or use anything that could ignite leaking gas. Leave the area safely and call for professional help. Only attempt to shut a valve if you are already trained, the control is safely accessible and there is no immediate exposure risk.
Do not enter a seriously damaged structure for passports, cash or clothing. Responders may restrict areas until engineers assess structural stability. A building can look intact from a distance yet have important damage that requires inspection.
Stage 5 — Your assembly area: what is it, and how do you reach it?
Türkiye’s local emergency assembly areas provide places where residents can gather after a disaster, away from immediate building-collapse hazards. They are part of organised emergency planning, not a guarantee that everyone will find a bed, water or medical supplies on arrival.
Before a quake, learn the actual toplanma alanı for your neighbourhood using official AFAD or government lookup services. Plan a walking route that avoids vulnerable building façades, unstable slopes and possible bridge damage. Practise with young children and family members who require physical assistance.
After a quake, follow police, AFAD or municipal directions and the conditions you can observe. A route may be blocked even if its map remains online. Do not enter a building marked unsafe simply because it is located next to the assembly site.
If the assembly area is crowded, keep children with responsible adults. Tell officials about injuries, missing relatives and essential medicine needs. Do not publish detailed personal information about displaced or injured people online.
A designated toplanma alanı differs from a long-term shelter (*barınma alanı*). Local authorities should explain the location of authorised welfare or accommodation facilities if people cannot return home.
Stage 6 — Aftershocks: why the structure may become more dangerous
Large earthquakes can be followed by many aftershocks. They may begin quickly and continue for days, weeks or longer. They often become less frequent over time, but their exact timing and strength cannot be predicted. Some aftershocks can cause further damage, especially in already weakened structures.
If the ground shakes again, return to a protective position. Stay away from cracked walls, damaged staircases, loose masonry and unstable slopes. Do not sit beneath a visibly compromised façade or enter a building solely because the previous shaking was smaller.
Aftershocks can also interrupt rescue, complicate engineering assessment and prolong shelter restrictions. If officials have closed a neighbourhood, obey the restriction until access is authorised.
A common rumour after an earthquake predicts a larger event at a specific hour. Such claims are not dependable scientific predictions and can cause unsafe crowd movement. Consult AFAD, Kandilli or other recognised seismic information sources for measured events and official advice.
Stage 7 — Coastal earthquake: recognise the additional tsunami decision
Certain Turkish coastlines, including parts of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, can be exposed to tsunami hazards. This is distinct from the earthquake’s immediate building hazards. If you are near a tsunami-exposed shore and feel strong or prolonged shaking, once you can move safely, get away from beaches, harbours, low coastal ground and river mouths toward designated high ground.
AFAD’s earthquake safety guidance specifically advises moving away from the coastline to higher ground after an earthquake because of possible tsunami danger.
A tsunami may arrive as rapidly rising water or destructive currents rather than a huge surf wave. The ocean does not have to recede first. Later waves may be larger than the first. Do not stand at the harbour to watch or return to retrieve a boat until authorities cancel the warning and allow access.
Local tsunami maps and evacuation signs determine the appropriate route. An inland assembly area for building collapse might not always be suitable for a coastal tsunami scenario; learn the area’s specific plan.
Stage 8 — Transport, hospitals and communications may be disrupted
In the first hours, some roads, railways, bridges, hospitals, water networks and power systems may be affected. The condition can differ across neighbourhoods. A road that remains physically open may need inspection before being used by ordinary traffic.
Do not occupy routes reserved for ambulances, firefighters or rescue machinery. Avoid unnecessary driving to check on property when roads need to serve urgent rescue. Use brief texts to notify relatives when communications function; repeated voice calls may contribute to congestion.
People with regular medication needs should report urgent requirements to authorised medical or shelter workers. Those using powered medical equipment may need relocation to a site with electricity. Bring medication lists and other relevant information when available.
Do not make public accusations or distribute unverified reports about collapsed structures, missing people or hospitals. A dated announcement from the relevant municipality or emergency agency is more useful than a viral image from an unrelated earthquake.
Stage 9 — If you are trapped: communicate without creating additional danger
If structural debris traps someone, rescuers need an accurate address or location pin, number of people, injuries and information about whether the structure is continuing to move. Call 112 if you have service and can do so safely. Signal your location by voice, tapping or an available light as conditions permit.
Do not light a match or use open flames in debris where a gas leak may exist. Avoid unnecessary movement of unstable heavy material. If you are outside a damaged structure, do not enter it without trained rescue procedures; another collapse can injure helpers.
If you can safely help someone already outside the hazard area, offer first aid within your competence and follow emergency dispatcher instructions. For severe bleeding, breathing difficulty or unconsciousness, get professional emergency advice promptly.
If the casualty has a suspected neck or spine injury, avoid unnecessary movement unless immediate danger requires it. Do not attempt an improvised extraction beneath a visibly unstable roof or beam.
Stage 10 — The first night: health, shelter and practical supplies
A household unable to enter its home needs an authorised safe shelter, water, food, weather-appropriate clothing, sanitation and medical care. The emergency bag should have been prepared ahead of time, but do not delay an evacuation to collect items if retrieval would expose you to a damaged building.
Check the local authority’s shelter arrangements, not a rumoured address circulating online. People with disabilities, infants and older adults may need accessible toilets, specific medical supplies or assistance with mobility. Tell authorised shelter staff the needs directly and respectfully.
Protect drinking water from broken pipes, damaged storage tanks and flood contamination. Do not assume that a clear well or tap supply is safe after a major infrastructure disruption. Follow official water and public-health notices.
Avoid operating generators, camping stoves or charcoal heaters inside enclosed shelters; carbon monoxide poisoning can add a second deadly emergency. Keep phone batteries for critical communication and allow rest when possible.
Stage 11 — Days afterward: safe return and recovery
Engineers and authorised authorities may inspect major structures, bridges and slope conditions. Do not return to damaged buildings until permitted. A repaired door or tidied room is not proof that the columns, foundation and utility connections are safe.
Be careful near retaining walls, cut slopes and riverbanks. Earthquake shaking can destabilise ground and lead to later landslides or rockfall, particularly if rain follows. Avoid restricted roads and places where masonry may continue to fall.
Document damage only from safe locations and use verified government or insurer channels for claims. Be wary of strangers demanding payment for guaranteed disaster assistance. Keep records of official notices and contact details to support legitimate recovery.
Recovery includes restoring schooling, workplaces and medical appointments. Support children with honest information and a predictable routine, but do not promise a specific date when every building or service will reopen.
AFAD and 112: which source answers which question?
AFAD — Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency: preparedness guidance, disaster coordination, assembly planning and official updates. It is the best starting point for understanding the Turkish disaster-response framework.
112 Emergency Call: immediate emergency services coordination for urgent rescue, injury, fire and other threats. Do not use 112 merely to ask whether a website has published a new magnitude.
Local governorate, municipality and authorised authorities: neighbourhood access, evacuation instructions, verified shelter locations and reopening of roads or premises.
Recognised seismic-monitoring organisations: technical details of measured events, magnitudes and locations. A seismic event listing is not a building-safety certificate.
Read current timestamps and location details carefully. A message about one district should not be assumed to apply to every district of a large city.
An illustrative example: a family in an Istanbul apartment
A family feels the floor move. They protect their heads beneath a nearby sturdy table and do not rush for the stairway while the building is shaking. When movement stops, they put on footwear, check for glass and possible gas leakage, and listen to building and official instructions.
The staircase appears passable, but the exterior façade has damaged pieces. The family follows the safest authorised route to its preidentified assembly area and stays away from the building while the structure is assessed. They send one short message to a relative. This is a teaching example, not a current Istanbul earthquake report or a safety assessment of any apartment.
Seven mistakes to avoid
- “A magnitude number tells me my building is safe.” Building condition and local shaking must be assessed separately.
- “A door frame is always the best protective position.” Nearby falling items and the building design matter.
- “Running downstairs during shaking is the quickest escape.” Stairs can be dangerous while moving.
- “The first quiet minute means no aftershocks can occur.” Additional shaking may continue.
- “Any park is the correct AFAD assembly area.” Use the designated location and current instructions.
- “An earthquake on the coast cannot produce a tsunami unless I see the sea recede.” Natural warning signs do not require visible withdrawal.
- “A viral prediction can tell me when the next earthquake will strike.” There is no dependable exact-time prediction.
Household earthquake checklist in Türkiye
- Learn Çök–Kapan–Tutun and practise it in the rooms and buildings you use.
- Secure heavy furniture, mirrors and shelves before an earthquake.
- Identify safe protective positions, exits and the official toplanma alanı.
- Plan assistance for children, older adults and anyone with accessibility or medical needs.
- Keep footwear, a light, drinking water, essential medicine, identification and phone power accessible.
- Save 112, AFAD and official local warning information.
- Understand whether coastal tsunami or hillside landslide hazards affect the local area.
- Never use lifts during an earthquake evacuation and avoid damaged stairs.
- Keep away from visibly damaged structures until competent clearance.
Frequently asked questions
What does Çök–Kapan–Tutun mean?
It means Drop, Cover and Hold On, Türkiye’s official protective action for earthquake shaking.
Should I run outside as soon as shaking starts?
Usually no. Protect yourself first against falling objects, then evaluate safe movement once shaking ends and follow official building directions.
Is the assembly area the same as an overnight shelter?
Not necessarily. An assembly area is a designated gathering place; longer-term shelter and welfare arrangements may be organised separately.
How long do aftershocks continue?
They can occur for days, weeks or longer, depending on the earthquake sequence. No specific safe countdown applies.
What if I am on a coastal beach after strong shaking?
Evacuate toward designated high ground and away from the shore as soon as safe movement is possible. Follow local tsunami information and do not wait for a visible wave.
What is the emergency number in Türkiye?
112 is the emergency call number. Tell dispatchers your location, the danger and how many people need help.
Official sources and related reading
- AFAD — Earthquake Precautions Before, During and After: Çök–Kapan–Tutun and evacuation guidance.
- AFAD — Be Safe Before, During and After an Earthquake: actions after shaking and tsunami caution.
- AFAD — Main Disaster Information: current official information and preparedness guidance.
- AFAD — Türkiye Disaster Preparedness: official agency starting point for local assembly and emergency updates.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Japan: another national earthquake warning and preparedness system.
- eduKateSG — Earthquake in Mexico: compare Mexico’s early-warning system and structural safety questions.
- eduKateSG — Tsunami in New Zealand: natural tsunami triggers and coastal evacuation.
Reader note — checked 6 November 2026: General preparedness and first-action information, not a live earthquake bulletin, engineering inspection or permission to re-enter a damaged building. Follow AFAD, local emergency agencies and 112 instructions.