Paleoseismologist Dr. Ramazan Demirtaş has issued a new statement criticizing warnings of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake regarding the Malatya-Ovacık fault. In a post on his social media account, Demirtaş stated that the fault in question has not produced an earthquake of the magnitude expected since the February 6, 2023, earthquakes.
In his post, Demirtaş stated, "The Malatya-Ovacık fault has not produced a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in the 3 years and 8 months since the February 6, 2023, earthquakes." He explained the reason for this by claiming that the fault had lost its activity in the past.
The expert argued that the Malatya-Ovacık fault "lost its activity 3.0-3.5 million years ago." In the same post, Demirtaş reacted to previous warnings, saying, "If it were up to some people, it would have produced a 7.4 earthquake in the week following February 6, 2023."
This statement has brought the assessments made by Prof. Dr. Naci Görür regarding the Malatya, Ovacık, and Nazimiye-Karakoçan faults following the February 6 earthquakes back to the agenda. Görür had previously stated that the faults in the region should be monitored carefully due to stress transfer.
In his past statements, Görür had pointed out that there might be energy accumulation in the faults around Malatya, and citing 2018 J Seismology publications, he had warned that the Malatya Fault could produce an earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.4.
Demirtaş, on the other hand, has recently criticized Görür not only regarding the Malatya-Ovacık fault but also for his statements concerning expectations for a Marmara earthquake. Demirtaş had drawn attention to the role of official institutions in informing the public about potential dangers.
News Source: 12punto
