Balgarianovinite.com Intense seismic activity has been recorded over the past two days in the area of the Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, with 117 earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 0.7 to 3.1 on the Richter scale recorded over a 48-hour period, Istanbul’s Kandilli Observatory said, as quoted by Milliyet newspaper.
The numerous microearthquakes occurred along the Princes’ Islands fault, part of the North Anatolian Fault system in the Sea of Marmara, where the catastrophic earthquake of August 17, 1999 also occurred.
The epicenter of the observed seismic activity is offshore, approximately 20 kilometres south of the islands, at a depth of about 10 kilometres.
The “quake swarm” in Istanbul, as the phenomenon is popularly known, has caused panic among local residents. Kandilli’s website was flooded by inquiries and shares, while various questions are being discussed in the media, the most critical being whether the situation could be a precursor to a major earthquake in the future.
In an official statement from the seismic observatory published by Turkish media, it was emphasized that the observed activity should not cause panic.
Detailed information on the earthquakes, including their exact times, magnitudes, and coordinates, has also been published. Residents were assured that seismic activity is being monitored around the clock by the Regional Earthquake-Tsunami Monitoring Center and the Earthquake Research Institute within the observatory, with the current situation being analyzed.
Speaking to A Haber television, earthquake specialist Prof. Osman Bektas said that the deeply creeping fault may be releasing some of its energy through small ruptures and there was no reason for panic. He added, however, that this did not mean that there was no risk of a major earthquake in Istanbul. Bektas said that after the 2025 Silivri earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale, aftershocks continued eastward toward the city. The Cinarcik fault was subjected to these stresses, which could be responsible for the current microearthquakes. The Princes’ Islands area is active and alive, and it could pose a threat, the scientist added. Intense Seismic Activity Recorded near Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands in 48 Hours 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-20 15:34:28 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law