Major danger in Kayseri: Capable of producing a 7.5 magnitude earthquake

Recent studies by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) have determined that the fault lines in Kayseri are capable of producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5. Geological Engineer Adnan Evsen emphasized that major earthquakes could occur, particularly along the Erkilet, Erciyes, and Yeşilhisar fault zones.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Major danger in Kayseri: Capable of producing a 7.5 magnitude earthquake

Geological Engineer Adnan Evsen has re-evaluated the potential of the fault lines in Kayseri using updated data.

According to the latest studies conducted by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), while it was previously estimated that the fault lines in Kayseri could produce an earthquake of magnitude 6.2, new data indicates that these faults are capable of producing earthquakes up to magnitude 7.5. Evsen stated that earthquakes of this magnitude could occur along the Erkilet, Erciyes, and Yeşilhisar fault zones.

Reminding that many structures in Kayseri sustained heavy damage during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, Evsen noted that there are 17 historical records of seismic activity around Kayseri to date. He stated that among these records, the largest instrumental period record was magnitude 5.4, while historical records indicate intensities of 8 and 9 on the intensity scale.

In studies conducted by the MTA within the framework of the "Geodynamics of Turkey's Crust Project," significant findings were reached regarding the magnitudes of the fault lines around Kayseri. These investigations determined that the Yeşilhisar, İncesu, Erkilet, and Erciyes faults exhibit strike-slip and normal fault characteristics. In light of paleoseismological data, a total of 14 earthquakes have been recorded on these faults since 25,400 BC. Specifically, earthquakes that created two surface ruptures of magnitudes 6.3 and 6.7 were identified on the Erkilet segment.

According to the MTA report, Evsen stated that the Yeşilhisar Fault Zone could produce an earthquake of magnitude 6.7, the İncesu Fault Zone magnitude 6.6, the Erkilet Fault Zone magnitude 7.5, and the Erciyes Fault magnitude 7.3. He also announced that the earthquake recurrence intervals for these faults are on average 3,000 years for Yeşilhisar, 4,000 years for Erkilet, and 5,000 years for Erciyes.

Touching upon the differences between earthquake magnitudes, Evsen emphasized that while there is a 1-point difference mathematically between magnitude 6 and 7 earthquakes, this difference is 10 points logarithmically. In other words, he explained that the impact of ten magnitude 6 earthquakes is equivalent to a single magnitude 7 earthquake.

He stated that an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 would affect all settlements within a 100-kilometer radius, primarily the center of Kayseri, as well as Kocasinan, Melikgazi, Talas, İncesu, and Yeşilhisar.

News Source: İHA