17.08.2024 13:00
Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Engineering Geomatics Engineering Professor Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu has revealed the most dangerous fault lines in Turkey. Kutoğlu stated that the Pamukova-Geyve fault line, Gemlik Bay, Bandırma, and the surrounding area of İzmir pose the greatest threat.
Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Faculty of Engineering Geomatics Engineering Professor Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu stated that he sees the biggest danger in Pamukova-Geyve line, Gemlik Gulf, Bandırma, and İzmir region in relation to the most risky faults in Turkey. He said, "If you ask me, the tensions in the Marmara Sea come later. When we look at the lengths of these faults, they will produce earthquakes of at least 6 or more."
Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu, a faculty member of ZBEU Faculty of Engineering Geomatics Engineering, examined the fault lines using satellite data and space technologies, which also show past earthquakes until 222 BC, with the software they developed. Stating that the energy in the fault line was released with the August 17th earthquake, Prof. Dr. Kutoğlu said, "The fault line that broke on August 17th starts from Gölcük and continues to Düzce. The earthquake broke a line for 200 kilometers. Energy needs to accumulate for another 200-250 years on this fault line for an earthquake of the same magnitude to occur. Therefore, the energy here is currently released. We do not expect an earthquake of this magnitude on this fault line."
"WE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS" Prof. Dr. Kutoğlu, who stated that there are faults in Turkey that can cause destructive earthquakes, said, "We are a country that is tested by earthquakes. Therefore, we need to learn to live with earthquakes. Instead of worrying about when an earthquake will occur, we need to take precautions and avoid loss of life in earthquakes. For this, there are measures that the authorities need to take, but on the other hand, there are measures that our citizens need to take as well. Many legal regulations have been enacted and urban transformation has been carried out since 1999. But we are not yet at the desired level. Especially in the Marmara region, we see that the building stock is very deficient and many of them are built without engineering services. We need to transform them quickly. Because the damage that occurred after the earthquake on February 6th also imposed a great economic burden on our country. God forbid, if we have an earthquake of this magnitude in the Marmara region or around İzmir, our losses could be much greater," he said.
"SPREADING THE DENSITY TO TURKEY REDUCES THE RISK" Prof. Dr. Kutoğlu, who mentioned the need to increase the speed of urban transformation and find methods that will attract the attention of citizens, said, "Increasing the population density and economic density to a very high level in a certain region is always a great risk for a country. We have 800 thousand square kilometers of land. If we spread both our population density and our economic density, our industry, and other facilities to the whole geography of Turkey instead of concentrating them in the Marmara or Aegean region, then we will reduce the risk. When a major earthquake occurs, the number of affected facilities and people will be much less."
MOST RISKY FAULTS Prof. Dr. Kutoğlu said about the most risky faults in Turkey, "Starting from the east, we have tense faults in the Erzincan-Erzurum region and the Bingöl-Yedisu line. As we move west, there is a high level of tension in the Pamukova-Geyve line south of Sakarya. There are also some fault lines with high tension in the Marmara Sea. Our fault lines passing through Gemlik Lake in the south are also under tension. There is a tense fault in the Bandırma line. In addition, we see that some faults in the İzmir-Manisa region have a high level of tension. Apart from that, we have a fault line passing through Denizli. This fault line has accumulated quite a tension since the major earthquake in the past. I see the biggest danger in Pamukova-Geyve line, Gemlik Gulf, Bandırma, and İzmir region. If you ask me, the tensions in the Marmara Sea come later. When we look at the lengths of these faults, they will produce earthquakes of at least 6 or more," he said.