Warning for a frightening earthquake in the Marmara region… It will affect seven provinces!

Prof. Dr. Hasan SOZBILIR emphasized that preparation for a potential Marmara earthquake could not be limited to Istanbul alone, urging neighboring provinces to also make preparations. During a conference in Edirne, Hasan Sözbilir, the Director of the Earthquake Research and Application Center (DAUM) at Dokuz Eylül University, reminded that Turkey was a country located on fault lines.

Sözbilir indicated that an earthquake was expected in the Marmara Sea, stating that the potential earthquake would affect 7 provinces with a coastline on the Marmara Sea.

Emphasizing the need for measures similar to those in Istanbul to be taken in other provinces, Sözbilir stated, “If we only prepare Istanbul for an earthquake, people in other provinces will experience loss of life and property. Therefore, mobilization is needed in all provinces neighboring the Marmara region.”

Sözbilir pointed out that millions of people lived in Istanbul and serious precautions were necessary to prevent severe consequences of a potential earthquake.

IT IS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE PRECAUTIONS

Sözbilir explained that making structures earthquake-resistant would reduce loss of life and property, adding following: “I believe that both AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) and governorships and municipalities are carrying out the necessary work. These efforts should mostly be evaluated in terms of the robustness of the buildings.”

“In fact, not every part of Istanbul is risky. If a city consists of mountainous and hilly areas, there will be less destruction there. Because there is solid rock underneath, and if the building is good in certain scales, the destruction will be lower.

However, the parts of Istanbul close to sea level, such as Avcılar and Küçükçekmece, will be more affected. If the necessary precautions have not been taken there based on building-soil interaction, there will be serious damage.

Earthquake master plans were made in Istanbul in 2003. Subsequently, micro-zoning studies and urban transformation efforts were carried out in line with it.

Institutions and citizens are trying to contribute as much as they can; this needs to be expedited. Since the fault is ready to generate an earthquake, it means it can happen at any moment. Therefore, all kinds of precautions need to be expedited accordingly.”