03.05.2025 14:01
Professor Dr. Murat Utkucu, a faculty member of the Department of Geophysics at Sakarya University, stated that strategic planning in Turkey should be based on earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.1. Utkucu noted that one of the three major seismic gaps known in Turkey has occurred in Hatay, leaving Erzincan and Istanbul as the remaining areas.
```html
Sakarya University (SAU) Faculty of Science hosted the first guest of the Science Talks series, Professor Dr. Murat Utkucu from the Department of Geophysics Engineering. In the talk titled "Earthquakes in Turkey and Precautions to be Taken," participants were informed about what an earthquake is, why this natural phenomenon occurs, fault lines around the world and the earthquakes that have occurred, the magnitude and effects of earthquakes, tsunami risks, earthquake clusters, and past and expected earthquakes in Turkey. Professor Dr. Utkucu stated that it is not possible to know earthquakes in advance with certainty, but seismic periods can be monitored based on the behavior of fault lines.
"TURKEY MUST PREPARE FOR EARTHQUAKES OF MAGNITUDE 8.1"
Utkucu pointed out that strategic planning in Turkey should be made according to major earthquakes, especially scenarios of magnitude 8.1, and emphasized the developments in the fields of earth sciences and seismology, noting that the seismic gap before the major earthquake experienced in Hatay was known in scientific circles. Professor Dr. Utkucu mentioned that the North Anatolian Fault Line is the most dangerous fault line in Turkey, stating that these faults accumulate and release energy approximately every 250 years, and that energy is accumulating for an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher around Istanbul.
"THERE IS A 39-FOLD ENERGY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 6.2 AND 7.2"
Utkucu stated that the earthquakes of magnitude 6 occurring in such regions are not the expected major earthquakes, and he also mentioned that there is approximately a 30-fold energy difference between earthquakes of magnitudes 6.2 and 7.2.
"ONLY ERZINCAN AND ISTANBUL REMAIN FROM 3 MAJOR SEISMIC GAPS"
Utkucu expressed that the earthquake that occurred in Istanbul on April 23 was felt significantly in Sakarya due to its location on the eastern branch, and explained that one of the three major seismic gaps previously known in Turkey occurred in Hatay, leaving Erzincan Yedisu and the Istanbul region remaining.
"IF THE BREAKAGE IS TWO-WAY, BOTH EAST AND WEST WILL BE AFFECTED EQUALLY"
Professor Utkucu conveyed that the risk levels of different regions could change depending on the direction of the expected earthquake in Istanbul, stating that if the fault starts from the Tekirdağ direction and progresses eastward, Sakarya could be seriously affected, while if it progresses westward from the Islands direction, the western provinces would be under threat. He noted that if the breakage is two-way, both sides would be affected equally. Utkucu reminded that Turkey is located in an active earthquake zone, emphasizing that the average time has expired and that all segments of society should be prepared in accordance with this reality.
```