19.02.2025 23:20
Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, who evaluated the seismic activity occurring in the Aegean Sea, warned that a tsunami could reach the shores in approximately half an hour. Sözbilir stated, "We need to move from the coast inland, and upward from sea level."
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Although there has been a relative decrease in the seismic activity that has been ongoing in the Aegean Sea since January 28, warnings are coming from experts. Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir, the Director of the Earthquake Research and Application Center at Dokuz Eylul University (DEÜ), made a presentation on earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions at the İzmir Disaster Coordination Workshop organized by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality at the Historical Gas Factory.
"WE NEED TO WORK ON MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN CASE OF A VOLCANIC ERUPTION"
Stating that the natural disaster risks in İzmir are not limited to earthquakes and tsunamis, Sözbilir said, "All natural disasters observed in the world can also be effective in İzmir at certain times. Recently, the danger of volcanic eruptions has emerged as a new type of disaster. The İzmir Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan needs to include volcanic eruptions as well. We need to work on what kind of measures we can take in the event of a volcanic eruption." he stated.
"THERE WILL BE EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, AND TSUNAMIS IN THE REGION FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS"
Sözbilir pointed out that the recent earthquakes in the Aegean Sea occurred north of Santorini Island, and noted: "There are many volcanoes in this region. In the past, eruptions have occurred 5-6 times, followed by earthquakes, and then tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. These are formed by the African plate subducting beneath the Anatolian plate. This is an evolutionary process; as the subduction continues, there will be earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis in the region for thousands of years."
"A LARGE AMOUNT OF ASH AND GAS WILL BE RELEASED"
Prof. Dr. Sözbilir explained that the eruption in Santorini around 1600 BC is estimated to have caused an earthquake of magnitude 6, and if the volcano erupts again, it will release a large amount of ash and gas into the atmosphere, which could lead to air pollution, damage to agricultural areas, and various environmental problems.
"WE WILL HAVE HALF AN HOUR"
Sözbilir stated that a tsunami occurring in the Aegean Region could reach the shores in approximately half an hour, saying, "First, there is an earthquake, then a tsunami. They do not occur simultaneously because there is a travel time for the tsunami. We will have at least half an hour. If we know what to do when a tsunami occurs, we will not have a problem. We need to move from the coast to higher ground, away from sea level," he expressed.
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