Şener Üşümezsoy evaluates the earthquake in Avcılar: Is it a harbinger of the major Istanbul earthquake?

A 3.0 magnitude earthquake recently occurred in the Avcılar district of Istanbul. The earthquake was felt in many districts of Istanbul, as well as in surrounding provinces such as Kocaeli and Tekirdağ. Although small, the tremor, which was reported to have a depth of 13.8 kilometers, caused panic, especially in coastal areas.

While citizens wondered whether this tremor was a harbinger of a major earthquake expected in the Sea of Marmara, experts began to make statements on the subject.

Speaking to CGTN Türk, Earthquake Expert Prof. Dr. Şener Üşümezsoy stated that this small tremor in Avcılar has no connection to the major earthquake expected in the Marmara region. Furthermore, emphasizing that some faults in the Marmara region are no longer active, Üşümezsoy expressed that the fear of a major earthquake created among the public is exaggerated.

'AVCILAR EARTHQUAKE IS NOT LINKED TO A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE'

Stating that the recent 3.0 magnitude Avcılar earthquake caused panic among citizens because it was close to the coast, Üşümezsoy expressed that this earthquake is not a harbinger of a 'major earthquake' and that the fault is not active:

"As soon as the Avcılar earthquake happened, there was sudden panic because it was close to the coast. Because they perceived it as an announcement of the major earthquake that is constantly talked about as 'coming' but never happens. However, this earthquake shows that what they call the 'major earthquake' is not happening and that the fault is not active. It is progressing northward, cutting across the fault between Yeşilköy and Büyükçekmece, on the fault line that is claimed to be between Yeşilköy and Büyükçekmece and heading towards Lake Çekmece. In other words, a fault is forming that cuts through Yeşilköy and Büyükçekmece and heads north."

'A SMALL EARTHQUAKE'

Prof. Dr. Üşümezsoy stated that the earthquake that occurred on the fault located between Yeşilköy and Büyükçekmece is not the major Istanbul earthquake, but a small earthquake that took place on the fault that opens the Çekmece Lakes:

"There is a fault between Yeşilköy and Büyükçekmece, and it cuts across the Avcılar ridge. Where they say an earthquake will happen on that fault, it is not such an earthquake; on the contrary, to its north, the magnitude 7 earthquake mentioned here is not the major Istanbul earthquake. A magnitude 7 to 10 earthquake is being discussed; an earthquake from Silivri to Yeşilköy is being talked about. It is said that this earthquake will produce a magnitude 7 tremor. Actually, that fault has two parts; one is the fault between Silivri and Kumburgaz, about 20-25 km long, but the other, the section that goes from Büyükçekmece to Yeşilköy, is a dead fault. This earthquake is one that occurred on the faults following the earthquakes in the Çınar Trough. This also shows that it is not the major Istanbul earthquake, but a small earthquake on the fault that opens the Çekmece Lakes."

'THE LATEST EARTHQUAKE REVEALED THE DEAD FAULTS IN MARMARA'

Üşümezsoy said that keeping major cities under risk by making non-existent faults appear as if they exist is one of the biggest mistakes:

"From the very beginning, many people wrote grand theories, published books and articles, but all the earthquakes they mentioned were refuted by the facts. There is no such major earthquake. From the beginning, I said that with this ruptured fault, there would not be a major earthquake after this, and for 30 years, the facts have proven me right.

For exactly 30 years, there was a discourse that kept people in fear. Showing major cities under risk by making non-existent faults appear as if they exist, and presenting them as a danger that at least will not happen, was one of the biggest mistakes. There are three non-existent faults still being used in the Marmara region: the Adalar fault, the Çekmece fault, and the fault line that is claimed to cut through the Amortis Mountains and extend from Maraş to Adana and Karataş, which does not exist in reality. The recent February 6 earthquake proved that these faulty faults are not real. Another mistake is the Tuzla fault, which is said to pass through the middle of Izmir and head north; this fault is not such a fault either. This latest earthquake was an event that revealed the dead faults in the Marmara region."

News Source: 12punto