Worrying warning for the Mediterranean, where earthquakes have occurred in succession: 'An earthquake greater than 8 is possible, there is a tsunami risk'

In recent days, earthquakes have been occurring one after another in the Mediterranean region.

Following the 4.6, 4.5, and 4.0 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Adana, a series of tremors were also recorded in the Kaş district of Antalya.

Earthquakes in Kaş were measured at 4.1 and 4.2.

While the activity in the region has caused concern among citizens, important warnings have come from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bülent Özmen, a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at Gazi University's Faculty of Engineering and a disaster management expert.

THE HELEN ARC IS VERY CRITICAL

Speaking to Zeynep Dilara Akyürek from Milliyet, Özmen made the following assessments:

"There are numerous faults in and around Antalya with the potential to generate earthquakes. These faults can be listed as the Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone, the Hellenic-Cyprus Arc, the Kırkkavak fault, and the Aksu fault.

The region in the Mediterranean known as the Hellenic Arc is truly critical. The Hellenic Arc is the area where the African plate subducts beneath the Aegean Sea. This line begins in the Ionian Sea of Greece, passes south of the islands of Crete and Rhodes, and extends toward the Gulf of Fethiye.

TSUNAMI DANGER

There is a possibility of an earthquake greater than 8.0 along this fault line. Furthermore, tsunami waves that may occur following the earthquake could increase the destructive power of the quake.

Furthermore, volcanic eruptions occur in the region from time to time and can cause serious damage. The recently increased seismic activity in this area indicates that the region must be monitored closely.

Even though we cannot know the exact timing of these earthquakes, it would be correct to think of them as precursors to a larger earthquake.

We must prioritize risk reduction efforts, considering that major earthquakes occurring along this fault line could cause damage due to both the earthquake itself and the resulting tsunami."

KAŞ AND FETHIYE COULD BE HEAVILY AFFECTED

Warnings from Prof. Dr. Murat Utkucu, a faculty member in Geophysical Engineering at the Sakarya University Disaster Management Application and Research Center, are as follows:

"Considering the July 21, 365 earthquake, which occurred west of Crete and is estimated to have had a magnitude of 8.3, there is a possibility that large earthquakes could affect the region strongly, if not extremely strongly, in terms of ground motion."

The distance of Crete from Antalya will prevent it from being very strongly affected. However, tsunamis generated by major earthquakes in the vicinity of Crete will affect Antalya and its surroundings.

The Antalya city center will be relatively less affected by these tsunamis due to the Teke Peninsula to its west. The districts of Fethiye and Kaş have a higher probability of being relatively more affected.

The 365 earthquake, its ground motion, and the resulting tsunami affected Sicily, Greece, Cyprus, Libya, Southwestern Turkey, Egypt, and Palestine. In addition to the 365 earthquake near Crete, the region has historically been affected by earthquakes in 66, 800, 1303, 1630, 1867, and 1886.