Leading Turkish seismologist Naci Görür said that about four million residents of Istanbul are at risk of death in the event of a powerful earthquake in the Sea of Marmara region. The expert said this in an interview with the Haber Global TV channel.
According to the scientist, a potential earthquake could affect a total of 16 million residents of the metropolis. Research has identified two tectonic "branches" in the Marmara region, where seismic energy is currently accumulating.
Gerür explained that an earthquake will occur as soon as the frictional force holding these faults back from collapsing is overcome.
Türkiye has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes. In 1999, a magnitude 7,6 earthquake in the Istanbul claimed the lives of 17,2 thousand people. More recently, in February 2023, earthquakes in the southeast of the country killed 53,5 thousand people.
