Critical warnings from an expert following recent earthquakes

While aftershocks continue following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, the 4.7 magnitude earthquake in Çanakkale yesterday and the 4.1 magnitude earthquake in Adana recently have once again revealed the reality of earthquakes in our country. 

'ÇUKUROVA HAS RELAXED'

Geophysical Engineer Melih Baki, a member of the Honorary Board of the Chamber of Geophysical Engineers Headquarters, spoke on the subject.

Stating that the Çukurova region has relaxed in terms of seismic activity, Baki said, "With the two earthquakes that occurred in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, Hatay has relaxed. Earthquakes below 4.5 magnitude do not cause problems. The real concern right now is the extension of the East Anatolian Fault, which moves secondarily and stretches to Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Bingöl, and Van. Aftershocks will continue until the second block moving there settles into place. That region will relax with an earthquake expected to be between 6.3 and 6.5."

'PAY ATTENTION TO REGIONS WHERE PRESSURE IS ACCUMULATING'

Stating that the Cyprus, Aegean, and Marmara regions should be monitored in terms of earthquakes, Baki said, "The real concern right now is the Cyprus, Aegean, and Marmara regions. Pressure and accumulation have shifted there. A problematic process has begun there. Activity has started there and it needs to be monitored well. I ask our professors who appear on television to inform the public not to speak like a person on the street. We are in a first-degree earthquake geography. Throughout history, this geography has experienced thousands of earthquakes. The destruction is always the same. For 70-80 years, we have never been able to take pre-earthquake precautions. Our professors who speak should not just say 'an earthquake might happen.' They should talk about the pre-earthquake precautions we lack. We need to explain the regulations on how the whole world has taken its precautions."

'IT IS THE DYNAMIC FORCES OF THE EARTHQUAKE THAT DESTROY THE BUILDING'

Emphasizing that more durable structures would emerge if legal responsibility were imposed on those authorized in building construction, Baki said, "Mexico was devastated by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, but they took precautions and did not experience major problems with an 8.1 magnitude one. Recently, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the north of the South American country of Chile, but they did not experience any problems either. We, however, always experience the same pain. The only thing we should talk about is pre-earthquake precautions. It is the dynamic forces of the earthquake that destroy the building. If we measure and calculate these on-site and impose legal responsibility on the authorized persons from soil surveys to building construction, this problem will be solved at its root."

On the other hand, Geophysical Engineer Melih Baki, a member of the Honorary Board of the Chamber of Geophysical Engineers Headquarters, said that one should not give credence to every statement written on social media.

News Source: 12punto