Dangerous warning from Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ercan: 'The region is building up stress for a major earthquake'

AFAD announced that an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers in the Germencik district of Aydın at 06:17 this morning. The earthquake was also felt in different parts of Aydın.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ercan stated in a post on social media that the earthquake was an expected event and that the tension in this region continues.

THE EXPECTED EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED

Prof. Dr. Ercan stated that the earthquake in Germencik was not a surprise and that he had previously drawn attention to the earthquake risk in this region. Recalling the 2020 Kuşadası–Samos earthquake, Ercan said he had previously reported that the Aydın–Germencik line would be a new earthquake focus:

"After the 2020 Kuşadası–Samos M6.9 earthquake, I said that this region, namely the Aydın–Germencik line, would be a new earthquake focus. The M3.7 earthquake in Balatçık, Germencik at 06:17 today also occurred in the expected location."

THE REGION IS BUILDING UP STRESS TOWARD A LARGER EARTHQUAKE

Ercan stated that despite the magnitude of the earthquake, this event is a beginning and the region continues to build up stress for a major earthquake. Pointing out that seismic activity in the region persists despite the small size of the earthquake, Ercan said, "This region will continue to build up stress to produce a larger earthquake. Furthermore, the geothermal energy sources here are also related to earthquakes. Larger earthquakes may occur in Aydın province in the future."

Ercan listed the safest districts regarding earthquake risk in Aydın. The relatively safer districts in Aydın in terms of earthquake destruction were listed as follows:

Kuşadası

Didim

Karpuzlu

Çine

Koçarlı

Bozdoğan

Yenipazar

Karacasu

STAY AWAY FROM WETLAND PLAINS

Making important warnings regarding the selection of residential areas, Ercan drew attention to the importance of soil structure. Stating that one should stay away from wetland plains with high earthquake risk, he recommended that settlements be built on more solid ground and in mountainous regions.

Criticizing the location where the Aydın City Hospital was built, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ercan said that the area where the hospital was constructed is risky.