Japanese seismologist Eshinori Moriwaki voiced yet another batch of fears about possible earthquakes in Turkey. However, he did not limit himself to vague wording but indicated which buildings would collapse in Turkey and where it would happen. Details below.
It will be recalled that another earthquake in Turkey under the Sea of Marmara on December 17 frightened tourists and residents. The shock was felt most vividly in Istanbul, about which seismological experts have already sounded gloomy forecasts several times. Details released by AFAD and the Kandilli observatory are as follows: The earthquake occurred on Sunday at 11:53 p.m. The epicenter was located under the Sea of Marmara, 8.5 km from the settlement of Yalova at a depth of 11 kilometers. The magnitude was 4.1. The earthquake was felt in Istanbul, where tourists panicked as they went to sleep in their hotels, as well as in neighboring provinces such as Kocaeli, Bolu, and Bursa – read details here.
As noted by the Olay portal, the expert stated that the earthquake did not affect Istanbul, where the northern branch of the fault passes: “The earthquake in the bay was felt from Bursa, Inegel, Balikesir, and Bandirma on the southern branch of the fault. Of course, the earthquake is expected in Istanbul on the fault line of Northern Anatolia, but it can happen in all parts of Turkey.”
The Japanese expert is sure that Turkey will not be spared by Sunday’s earthquake and emphasized that the next episode is expected, in particular, in the Karşıak region of Izmir – it stands apart due to unfavorable ground conditions. In addition, Moriwaki pointed out that some areas, such as Inegel, Bursa, Bandirma, and Balikesir, have not experienced any destruction in the last 150 years. And this is also a signal for shocks that may happen shortly. The entire region of the Sea of Marmara is at risk, since at its bottom is a fault zone that starts from Helchyuk and runs south of the islands in the Sea of Marmara. This fault, he said, poses a potential threat and could cause an earthquake.
In connection with the threat, Morivaki urged the Turkish authorities, residents and tourists to prepare for a series of earthquakes. He stressed the importance of taking precautions, especially in buildings where people live. “Does the building where you live have a license or not? Is this building earthquake-proof? All this should be checked. If this house was built after 2000, they may be affected. As for the earthquake, buildings with soft soil, without a license and built before 2000 can collapse due to shaking… We all have to be ready together,” he explained. Moriwaki also noted that following the Kahramanmarash earthquakes last February, safety measures must be taken in Bingel, Mush and Bitlis on the Eastern Anatolia fault line.