Japanese earthquake expert Moriwaki issues quake warning for the region! 'It could be around magnitude 7…'

Senior Civil Engineer, Architect and Earthquake Expert Yoshinori Moriwaki participated in earthquake symposiums held in Siirt.

Offering assessments on fault lines in Turkey, Moriwaki stated that the East Anatolian Fault Line extends from Elazığ, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay through Adana and onward to Cyprus.

"AN EARTHQUAKE OF AROUND MAGNITUDE 7 COULD OCCUR IN CYPRUS"

Drawing attention to Cyprus, Moriwaki said: "An earthquake of around magnitude 7 could occur in Cyprus. Cyprus is one of the most dangerous zones in this regard. I can say this region ranks first."

Yoshinori Moriwaki continued as follows:

"Earthquakes in Turkey follow one after another like dominoes. Bingöl-Karlıova, Muş and Bitlis form the second zone. The third zone is the Aegean side. There are very thin and short fault lines on the Aegean side. That is why very large earthquakes do not occur there, but they happen frequently. The fourth zone is the Marmara Region. In 1999, the earthquake that struck Gölcük on the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Line also affected Yalova. There are roughly 8 fault lines on the North Anatolian Fault Line. When one of the fault lines in the Marmara Region ruptures, an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 could occur; if several rupture together, it could reach magnitude 7."

THE FEBRUARY 6 EARTHQUAKES

Moriwaki stated that a major earthquake is not expected in the region following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes of February 6, 2023, as they released a large amount of accumulated energy.

Reminding that the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes also affected Hatay, which sits on soft ground, Moriwaki noted that if an earthquake were to occur at sea on the Cyprus side, the area could be affected again due to its soil conditions.

Yoshinori Moriwaki said there is an earthquake risk further along the East Anatolian Fault Line, but that it is not possible to give a timeframe for when it might occur.

Emphasizing the importance of accepting the reality of earthquakes and being prepared, the Japanese expert noted that damage can be largely prevented if one is ready for an earthquake.

Moriwaki also offered advice to people looking to buy or rent a home on what they should pay attention to, saying:

"First, is the ground good or bad? You can check this online by area. If the ground is good, seismic waves pass through quickly and shaking is not excessive. If it is soft, that is bad. In 1999 there was an earthquake in İzmit — Istanbul did not have major problems, but despite the distance, many buildings collapsed in Avcılar because of the soft ground. Second, does the building have a permit and occupancy certificate? In other words, is it a licensed building? If no permit was obtained, there is no telling what was done — whether materials were skimped on or poor materials were used. Third, was it built before or after the year 2000, because regulations changed in 1999. Buildings constructed after 2000 are generally good. Since it was required that soil drilling and inspection be carried out and that poor soil be improved, we can say that buildings from after 2000 are good."

"URBAN RENEWAL MUST BE CARRIED OUT"

The Japanese expert stated that urban renewal or structural reinforcement must be carried out as needed in order to be prepared for earthquakes.

Moriwaki said: "You need to look at the columns. When the reinforcement inside the concrete rusts, it expands and breaks apart the concrete. This means the building could collapse in an earthquake. Urban renewal must be carried out by municipalities. Residents of buildings must also give their consent for renewal. There are also buildings that can be structurally reinforced."

News Source: AA