Analyzing Fault Reactivation Behavior Using InSAR, Stress Inversion, and Field Observations During the 2025 Sındırgı Earthquake Sequence, Simav Fault Zone, Western Türkiye

Abstract

The S & imath;nd & imath;rg & imath; earthquake sequence, with moment magnitudes of 6.1 on 10 August and 27 October 2025, respectively, occurred within the Simav Fault Zone in western T & uuml;rkiye, rupturing nearby but structurally distinct fault segments. In this study, we combine Sentinel-1 InSAR time-series measurements with seismological data, geomorphic observations, and post-event field surveys to examine how deformation evolved between and after these events. InSAR results indicate coseismic line-of-sight displacements of 6-7 cm, followed by post-seismic deformation that persisted for months at 8-10 mm/yr. This behavior signifies that deformation continued well beyond the initial rupture. The estimated displacement does not align with a single fault plane. Instead, it corresponds to a network of early-mapped and previously unrecognized fault segments. Seismicity patterns and stress tensor inversions show that activity migrated spatially after 10 August and that the faulting mechanism altered before the second earthquake. When synthesized, observations indicate stress transfer within a modular, segmented fault system, thought to have been influenced by regional structural complexity. Field investigations after the October earthquake reported new surface cracks and fault traces, providing evidence of shallow deformation. The collected results indicate that post-seismic stress redistribution played a leading role in modulating the 2025 S & imath;nd & imath;rg & imath; earthquake sequence.