Prof. Dr. Naci Görür evaluates disagreements among experts: 'There is only one view on this matter'

Following the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul, the views and polemics of earthquake experts became a hot topic. Participating in a live broadcast, Prof. Dr. Naci Görür evaluated the ongoing polemics and stated, "I do not believe in the different views and disagreements put forward after the earthquake. In my view, there are not two opinions; there is only one. The major earthquake expected in the Marmara region will happen. The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred has brought the expected major earthquake closer."

"THE MAJOR MARMARA EARTHQUAKE WILL HAPPEN"

"I do not believe in the different views and disagreements put forward after the earthquake. In my view, there are not two opinions; there is only one. The major earthquake expected in the Marmara region will happen. The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred has brought the expected major earthquake closer. The Kumburgaz fault still has 40-50 kilometers of unbroken area. The area that broke is only 20 kilometers."

"IS THE PROBABILITY OF AN EARTHQUAKE LARGER THAN 7 IN ISTANBUL 47% TODAY?"

"The fault gaps created by earthquakes will certainly be filled. It was not the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that we feared. A larger one is coming. Those who have different views on this matter must present scientific evidence and present it in a scientific manner so that we can trust it. Simply expressing an opinion on a scientific subject is not enough. There are international standards for these things.

Let them discuss this on a scientific platform and convince us, and we will be proud.

Studies show that after the 1999 earthquake, the probability of an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 7 in Istanbul is given as 47% with certainty."

"There was a small earthquake on April 23, and everyone relaxed. There was a feeling of, 'We waited so long, was this it?' The actual expected earthquake is the major one. If this earthquake happens in the Marmara region, we will definitely not see this scene, but a much worse one. Istanbul will collapse economically and industrially. If Istanbul collapses, Turkey collapses. We will have neither our national security nor our system left.

So what is the solution? Make large cities like Istanbul earthquake-resistant. Two earthquakes of the same magnitude. One happened in Turkey, 50 thousand dead. One happened in Thailand, ten people died by chance. Daily life was not even affected. I do not want this. I cannot accept this for us. That is why you should not have these arguments about which fault broke and which did not on screens in front of the citizens. Go and do it in scientific fields and committees. Come, let us unite and produce the solution together.

The public must also be conscious and honest. For their children and grandchildren, they must demand that politicians honestly develop safe policies regarding earthquakes. They should be able to say, 'Otherwise, I will not vote for you.'

The public needs to be educated on this matter. Japan is an earthquake country. Even if you held a gun to a citizen's head there, they would never engage in an initiative that contradicts the reality of earthquakes. We must also reach this level of consciousness.

Politicians will spend less on other projects if necessary and build earthquake-resistant cities. They will make the necessary preparations. We are not even saying do it immediately; do it in 10 or 15 years. But we see that despite living with the reality of earthquakes for 25 years, there are no significant, serious efforts."

POLEMICS HAD OCCURRED AMONG EARTHQUAKE EXPERTS

Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy, who predicted the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Silivri, Istanbul, on Wednesday 20 days in advance, reacted when reminded of Celal Şengör's words, "The major Istanbul earthquake is coming," during a broadcast he attended.

Participating in the Taksim Meydanı program on TGRT Haber, Üşümezsoy emphasized that 'the expected earthquake in the Sea of Marmara has occurred and there will no longer be a major earthquake.'

Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy had responded to Şengör's remarks about him, such as "On what data is Üşümezsoy basing his claims? He doesn't even have any scientific work," by saying, "I saw the deformation in the rocks in the field. I built these muscles by swinging hammers and sledgehammers, by breaking faults in the field."

News Source: 12punto