Striking statements and warnings from experts following the earthquake in Balıkesir: An earthquake swarm may occur

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir at 22:48. According to information on the website of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), a 6.1 magnitude tremor was recorded with its epicenter in the Sındırgı district.

It was determined that the earthquake, which was felt in many provinces in the Marmara and Aegean regions, especially in Istanbul and Izmir, occurred at a depth of 5.99 kilometers.

NACİ GÖRÜR WARNS

Prof. Dr. Naci Görür made the following statement after the earthquake: An earthquake occurred in Aktaş-Sındırgı/Balıkesir. This region is a horst of a graben (Gediz). This horst is fragmenting. The horst (Gördes, Demirci, Selendi, Uşak), on which NNE-SSW grabens have developed by fragmenting, continues to fragment by producing earthquakes. Stay away from damaged houses.

PROF. DR. SÖZBİLİR EVALUATES THE SINDIRGI EARTHQUAKE: AN EARTHQUAKE SWARM MAY OCCUR

Dokuz Eylül University (DEÜ) Earthquake Research and Application Center Director Prof. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir made the following assessment regarding the 6.1 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir: "Most likely, these new faults that we identified after the August 10 earthquake have been triggered. Since these faults are faults that contain geothermal fluids, aftershocks up to magnitude 5 may occur, and an earthquake swarm may occur."

In his written statement, Sözbilir noted that the earthquake, which occurred at 22:48, was very close to the epicenter of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake on August 10.

Noting that they mapped new faults with the potential to produce destructive earthquakes during their field studies in the south of Sındırgı after the August 10 earthquake, Sözbilir stated, "Most likely, these new faults that we identified after the August 10 earthquake have been triggered. Since these faults are faults that contain geothermal fluids, aftershocks up to magnitude 5 may occur, and an earthquake swarm may occur. Therefore, one should not enter damaged houses and should act according to the instructions given by the authorities."

ÜŞÜMEZSOY: "A 100 KM SURFACE IS TEARING"

Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy made statements regarding the earthquake, which was also felt in Istanbul and surrounding provinces. Üşümezsoy said that this earthquake was not an aftershock but a triggering earthquake.

Şener Üşümezsoy continued his statement as follows: It is a continuation of the earthquake I pointed out in Sındırgı, a little further to the southeast. A 15 km fault had broken, and it had a continuity coming towards the south. Towards the fault line 7-8 km southeast of Sındırgı. It is not an earthquake under Sındırgı, but in its mountains. What does this mean?

A 100 km surface is tearing approximately. There had been another 10-15 km of tearing. This place is the growth of aftershocks towards the south, towards a new fault plane. We had said that the constant growth of aftershocks towards the south indicates a new fault plane. The people of Sındırgı should not expect a larger earthquake than this.

This earthquake is a part of the previous Balıkesir Sındırgı earthquake. Like the drawers of a dresser. After one broke, the other broke too. This earthquake is not an aftershock. It is a triggering earthquake. These are earthquakes that occur on the north-south line in the Simav earthquakes. But in the form of an earthquake swarm.

"THE BREAKING ON THE FAULT HAS ENDED"

I am not in favor of them spending the night outside; with the breaking of the 6.1 fault, 10 km of breaking remained, the breaking on that fault has ended, there is no forest left to burn there. They can sleep comfortably regarding this fault. The 4.2 magnitude earthquake happening now is an aftershock of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake. In the new fire, the places that burned less are burning; there will be aftershocks tonight, but there will not be an earthquake that exceeds 6.1. At most, 4.9 magnitude earthquakes will come.

This may be in a section towards the mountains of Sındırgı, 10 km further south. There is an earthquake swarm on the line going from Akhisar to Manisa, but there is no earthquake there. The same applies to Simav; earthquakes occurred in the north of Simav, but that is not the fault in Simav, that is also an earthquake swarm there.

WILL IT AFFECT THE ISTANBUL EARTHQUAKE?

This earthquake will not affect the Marmara earthquake. I had previously made a piano key analogy. I had said 'I expect an earthquake in Sındırgı' at a time when no one knew about Sındırgı. There are side-by-side faults. After the earthquake between Kumburgaz and Silivri, no aftershocks accumulated in Silivri. But here (Sındırgı), because there are other faults, aftershocks accumulated.