The seismically active Palu and Pütürge segments in the east display a recurrence interval of about 150 years for M 6.8–7.0 earthquakes.

[4] was part of a seismic sequence involving Mw  6.7–7.0 earthquakes along the East Anatolian Fault from 1866 to 1905.

The shock was associated with 86 km (53 mi) of surface rupture with a maximum left-lateral offset of 4.5 m (15 ft) measured south of Çelikhan.

The rupture likely ceased about 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Pütürge in the north and near Erkenek at its southern termination.

A Mw  6.8 earthquake in 1905 likely completed the rupture along the southern Erkenek segment; no surface faulting was associated with the shock.

An estimated 5,100 homes in the villages between Malatya and Pütürge were destroyed; the remaining 1,900 were damaged.

Three churches, 47 mosques, 14 religious schools, the barracks in the town and two telegraph stations were razed.