Earthquake mystery: What were the glowing lights in the Turkey sky? Here’s the science behind it

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Turkey on April 2. While such seismic activity is not unusual in the region, what followed caught many off guard. Reports soon emerged of floating lights appearing in the sky shortly after the quake. Initially dismissed as illusions—or even UFO sightings—these glowing phenomena are now being studied more closely as “earthquake lights” (EQL), a rare but scientifically documented event.

These lights can take the form of floating orbs, streaks, or steady glows, often appearing just before or during seismic activity. Though folklore has long linked strange lights to earthquakes, modern research is beginning to explain the science behind these sightings.

What are Earthquake Lights?

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) classifies these as EQL, describing them as luminous events that may resemble sheet lightning, glowing spheres, or flickering streams. For years, such reports were met with skepticism. Today, however, scientists increasingly accept them as real phenomena associated with tectonic stress—especially in regions where the Earth’s crust is pulling apart.

How do these lights form?

According to research presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU), intense pressure within the Earth’s crust can release electrically charged particles known as “p-holes.” As these charges travel to the surface and interact with the atmosphere, they ionize the air, producing visible light that can resemble plasma in the sky.

What satellites are seeing

Space agencies, including NASA, are now tracking these events using satellite sensors. Studies from the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) suggest that earthquakes can generate strong electrical fields extending from the ground into the atmosphere and even the ionosphere. This process, known as “energetic coupling,” may explain the flashes and floating glows observed during seismic events.

Why they appear near fault lines

Research indicates that nearly 97% of recorded earthquake light cases occur near rift zones—areas where tectonic plates are separating. These fault lines act as pathways, allowing electrical charges from deep within the Earth to rapidly reach the surface. The result is brief but striking bursts of light in the sky, often seen before or during an earthquake.

What once seemed like superstition is gradually becoming measurable science. Earthquake lights remain rare and not fully understood—but they are no longer just stories told after the ground stops shaking.