Türkiye refutes HAARP conspiracy theories regarding April 23 Istanbul earthquake

Many conspiracy theories involving the so-called ‘HAARP system’ have surfaced following the frightening 6.2 magnitude tremor that hit Istanbul’s western coasts on April 23. Some of these claims were raised by public figures, including politicians, which swiftly created confusion among the Turkish public, especially in the wake of the ongoing earthquake trauma.

Türkiye’s Communications Directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) on Saturday denied claims circulating on social media that a U.S. Navy ship was responsible for a recent earthquake in Istanbul.

In a statement, the DMM said the allegations — including claims that the earthquake was triggered by the U.S. ship in the Bosphorus or by the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) — were unfounded.

Similar conspiracy theories involving HAARP following major earthquake in 2023

The statement clarified that the photos being shared online depict the USS Nitze, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy, and that the images were taken in 2023. It added that the ship has not recently conducted any operations in Turkish waters.

“There is no scientific basis for claims that an earthquake could be triggered by a ship or by the HAARP system,” the DMM added.

Öztürk Yılmaz, a Turkish politician, shared a social media post on April 23 that a U.S. military ship was seen in Türkiye’s Yalova just before the earthquakes. He claimed that it was the same ship that was in the Marmara Sea right before major earthquakes in Türkiye’s southeast in 2023.

The DMM statement explained that earthquakes occur when energy accumulated along fault lines in the Earth’s crust is suddenly released. Increased stress at a specific point along a fault can cause the blocks on either side to shift, resulting in a rupture and the release of seismic waves.

“Earthquakes are the result of natural geological processes involving massive forces within the Earth’s crust,” the DMM said.

‘Not possible for the HAARP system to generate such energy’

“The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) was established to study the ionosphere using high-frequency radio waves. According to current scientific data and the consensus within the scientific community, it is not possible for a ship or the HAARP system to generate the amount of energy needed to cause an earthquake,” the statement clarified.

Authorities urged the public not to believe baseless conspiracy theories.

Istanbul earthquakes: What happened?

A powerful 6.2 magnitude tremor struck Istanbul on Wednesday, injuring at least 236 people in panic-driven incidents, officials said.

The epicenter was located in Istanbul’s Silivri district, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Of the 266 aftershocks recorded, 258 were between magnitudes 0 and 4, while seven ranged between 4 and 5. One aftershock exceeded magnitude 5, adding to the anxiety of Istanbul residents still reeling from the main event.

The earthquake damaged at least 378 buildings, many of which were already structurally compromised. The incident served as a stark reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle with earthquake preparedness.

Authorities quickly issued public safety advisories, urging residents to stay away from old or visibly damaged buildings until structural inspections could be completed.

Though moderate in seismic terms, the April 23 quake laid bare critical deficiencies in the city’s emergency response systems.