Prominent member of Science Academy explains regions with earthquake risk, in Turkey

Turkey was destroyed by two earthquakes centered on Kahramanmaraş. Geologist and member of the Academy of Sciences Prof. Dr. Naci GÖRÜR warned and said, “Istanbul and Tekirdağ residential areas are risky regions. In addition, Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Edremit around the southern branch of the North Anatolian fault are the regions where we expect earthquakes, as well.”

Turkey was destroyed by two earthquakes centered on Kahramanmaraş.  The number of casualties is increasing in the destruction caused by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred on February 6 in Kahramanmaraş in 10 provinces. On day 7 of the earthquake search-and-rescue efforts are still continuing, and experts keep sharing important evaluations about the disaster.

Prof. Dr. Naci Görür, a member of the Science Academy, made some important evaluations to Turkish media. He said, “We also had some concerns about the February 6 earthquake zone because there is the Malatya fault to the west of Malatya and the Ovacık fault to the north. They may have been loaded with energy to a certain extent after the earthquake, but I hope they won’t be affected because then a disaster would happen.”

Görür also drew attention to the Marmara Region and said, “Istanbul and Tekirdağ residential areas are risky regions. In addition, Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Edremit around the southern branch of the North Anatolian fault are the regions where we expect earthquakes.”

“IT WOULD BE A DISASTER”

The highlights from his explanations are as follows:

“We also had some concerns about the February 6 earthquake zone because there is the Malatya fault to the west of Malatya and the Ovacık fault to the north. They may have been loaded with energy to a certain extent after the earthquake, but I hope they won’t be affected because then a disaster would happen. Of course, we don’t know if or when an earthquake will happen in these regions, because there is no mathematics to it. The earthquakes we experienced affected 10 provinces very seriously. Since we, as people living in these lands, cannot stop the earthquake, we have to reduce its damages and sustain our lives by building earthquake-resistant cities. That’s the main summary.”

“THE REGIONS WHERE WE EXPECT EARTHQUAKES”

“One of the most dangerous earthquake-related regions in Turkey is the Marmara Region. The northern branch of the North Anatolian fault passes through the northern part of the Marmara Sea. The residential areas of Istanbul and Tekirdağ are therefore risky areas. In addition, Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Edremit around the southern branch of the North Anatolian fault are the regions where we expect earthquakes. Izmir is risky in the same way. If we had talked before, I would have said ‘Kahramanmaraş’. We are experiencing this today. Hakkari is another of our provinces… We are also predicting an earthquake on the Yedisu fault between Erzincan and Karlıova district of Bingöl province. Stress may also have increased on faults in the Adana Basin and Iskenderun district of Hatay.