25.08.2025 02:44
After the 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Balıkesir, attention turned to the fault lines. The President of the Chamber of Geological Engineers, Alan, stated that "there is a fault that has the potential to produce an earthquake of approximately 6 magnitude, extending 25 kilometers from within Ankara." He added, "Unfortunately, the building stock in Ankara is not constructed based on the acceleration values that such a fault passing right through the city would create."
```html
The President of the Chamber of Geological Engineers, Alan, stated that "there is a fault that has the potential to produce an earthquake of approximately 6 magnitude, extending 25 kilometers within Ankara."
After the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir in recent weeks, the eyes turned to expert names.
WARNING FOR ANKARA FROM AN EXPERT
The Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Geological Engineers, Hüseyin Alan, noted that the 3.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Ankara on August 11 was felt quite strongly by citizens living in the Ümitköy, Çayyolu, and Bağlıca regions, and that the epicenter of this earthquake pointed to a location just west of the Gazi Orduevi.
Alan stated that after feeling the earthquake himself, he consulted with his colleagues at MTA and AFAD to gather information on the subject. In his statements regarding the issue, Alan said the following:
"BAĞLICA FAULT CAN PRODUCE EARTHQUAKES OF 6 AND ABOVE"
"In the past, we knew that there was a Bağlıca fault in the Bağlıca region of Ankara on Turkey's Active Fault Map or tectonic maps. This has also been recorded on these maps. However, we did not know whether this fault was active or passive. These recent earthquakes have shown us that this fault is active. Although there have been no publications on this, professors at Ankara University have conducted significant studies on this issue. They shared their thoughts with us that the Bağlıca fault extends both to the west and east, and that it is a fault line approximately 25 kilometers long, which could cause an earthquake of magnitude 6 or higher if it is active.
"STRUCTURES IN ANKARA ARE UNDER GREAT RISK"
Until now, we have expressed that Ankara would not experience an earthquake, or if there were to be one, it would be affected by the surrounding faults, meaning the faults surrounding Ankara. This situation is extremely new. The existence of a fault that has the potential to produce an earthquake of around 6 magnitude, extending approximately 25 kilometers through the city of Ankara, shows us that it is a new source area that needs to be evaluated in terms of earthquakes. Of course, if you ask why this is important for Ankara, unfortunately, the building stock in Ankara is not constructed based on the acceleration values that such a fault passing through the city would create. This shows us that the structures in Ankara are under great risk.
"ANKARA NEEDS A NEW TECTONIC MAP"
The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, in cooperation with AFAD and MTA, needs to quickly revise the geological, geotechnical, and micro-zoning studies of the areas concerning Ankara's zoning plan. In other words, the issues of whether this fault is active and how far it extends must be determined in detail and incorporated into zoning plans, and the buildings to be constructed in Ankara should be built based on the acceleration values that this fault would produce. The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality must definitely take action on this matter."
"ANKARA WAS BUILT BASED ON LOW ACCELERATION VALUES"
Alan stated that the possible earthquake would be "very destructive," saying, "Because when we consider the building stock of Ankara from the past, we see that it was constructed based on extremely low acceleration values in relation to the source zones of earthquakes that could affect Ankara. Ankara is the capital of the country. It is the face of the Republic that looks outward. I believe that this face should not face heavy losses due to a small earthquake. Every citizen has a separate responsibility. At least let’s not overlook this."
```