22.01.2025 11:42
After the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Aegean Sea, earthquake expert Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir made notable warnings by pointing out three fault lines. Sözbilir stated, "Since the Gulf is located at the intersection of the Edremit Fault, Behramkale Fault, and Tuzla Fault in this area, a swarm of earthquakes with magnitudes mostly less than 5.3 may occur."
The earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 that occurred yesterday at 23:38 off the coast of Ayvacık in the Aegean Sea frightened the local population. While citizens spent the night on edge, Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, the Director of the Earthquake Research and Application Center (DAUM) at Dokuz Eylul University (DEÜ) and a faculty member of the Department of Geological Engineering, made significant warnings regarding the earthquake.
REMINDING OF THE 1944 EARTHQUAKE
Prof. Dr. Sözbilir reminded that an earthquake centered in the Edremit Gulf occurred on October 6, 1944; this earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.8 and lasted about 20 seconds, resulted in 73 fatalities and damaged more than 2,200 buildings. Sözbilir explained that this earthquake was felt with a magnitude of 9, stating, "In this earthquake, a surface rupture 35 kilometers long formed between Behram and Akçay along the northern boundary of the Edremit Gulf. More recently, in February 2017, there were numerous earthquakes with a main shock of 5.3 magnitude in the western section of the Tuzla Fault during the Çanakkale-Ayvacık earthquakes, and an earthquake storm occurred. Many village houses were also damaged in this earthquake."
"AN EARTHQUAKE STORM OF LESS THAN 5.3 MAY OCCUR"
According to national and international seismology centers, Sözbilir explained that today's earthquake was caused by a faulting mechanism of a normal fault type with a D-B orientation within the Edremit Gulf, resulting in an earthquake of magnitude 5.0-5.3. "In this context, it can be considered as a triggered earthquake. The Edremit and Behramkale faults are classified as fault segments belonging to the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault. Since the slip rate of the Edremit Fault is low and the range of earthquake production is wide, there is no likelihood of producing a destructive earthquake in the near future. However, since the Gulf is located at the intersection of the Edremit Fault, Behramkale Fault, and Tuzla Fault in this section, an earthquake storm predominantly consisting of earthquakes smaller than 5.3 may occur," he stated.