BALIKESIR — 1964 · Major Tragedy

The 1964 Manyas Earthquake

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

At 16:31 on 6 October 1964, an earthquake with a surface-wave magnitude of 7.0 struck with its epicentre in the Manyas district of Balıkesir. A magnitude 5.0 foreshock preceded the main shock, and around 800 aftershocks were recorded in the following months. Besides Manyas, the quake affected Gönen, Bandırma and Susurluk, as well as Mustafakemalpaşa and Karacabey in Bursa province. About 5,400 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Death toll figures vary between sources: Wikipedia and local outlets cite at least 23 dead, while some academic studies give higher numbers. It is recorded as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the southern Marmara region in the 20th century.

Date: 1964
Place: Manyas, Balıkesir
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 40.0500, 27.9700 ↗

Timeline of Events

6 October 1964A magnitude 5.0 foreshock was recorded before the main shock.
6 October 1964A magnitude 7.0 earthquake centred on Manyas struck at 16:31.

October 1964About 5,400 buildings were found to be damaged; at least 23 people died.
1964-1965Around 800 aftershocks were recorded in the region.

Sources

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