A 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Adana's Saimbeyli district yesterday at 14.19. 17 minutes after this earthquake, a second earthquake of magnitude 4.9 occurred, this time at 14.36. Then, a third earthquake of magnitude 5.2 occurred in the nearby region at 14.43, the epicenter of which was the Sumbas district of Osmaniye. On the same day, earthquakes of magnitude 4.3 occurred at 19.00 and magnitude 4.4 in Saimbeyli at 20.28. The 6th earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 occurred at 01.51 today. Earthquakes were felt in Adana as well as in surrounding provinces.
'ADANA IS UNDER RISK'
After the tremors, remarkable statements came from experts. Earth scientist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür; In his statement on his social media account; "The earthquake is in the Savrun Fault zone. The effect of the 2023 earthquakes. The Savrun Fault zone is active. Adana is at risk, it should be careful," he said.
4 AND MORE THAN 6 MAJOR EARTHQUAKES IN THE SAME AREA
CU Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geological Engineering, Head of General Geology Department, Prof. Dr. Ulvi Can Ünlügenç reminded that in addition to the 6 earthquakes of magnitude 4 and above that occurred in this region, there was another earthquake of magnitude 5, with the epicenter in the Saimbeyli district of Adana, two weeks ago, on September 21, at 04.02. Stating that they frequently carry out field studies in Saimbeyli district, Ünlügenç explained the earthquake activity and risks in the region.
'THOUSANDS OF SHAKES OCCURRED AFTER THE 2023 EARTHQUAKES'
Prof. emphasized that Adana and its immediate surroundings are under the influence of many tectonic structures such as the Eastern Anatolian Fault System, Ecemiş Fault Zone, Sürgü–Çardak Fault Zone, Savrun, Kozan, İmamoğlu, Karataş-Ceyhan-Osmaniye, Toprakkale and Yumurtalık faults. Dr. Ulvi Can Ünlügenç said, "The corridor between Saimbeyli-Feke and Göksun-Kozan, where the earthquake occurred, is in a geological 'shear zone' position. Thousands of earthquakes occurred in this region during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes and afterwards, and where earthquakes of 5 or more still continue, it is a complex region that needs to be examined in detail scientifically."
'MOST EXPECTED AREA'
Pointing out that the region has the potential to produce earthquakes with magnitudes between 5 and 5.8, Prof. Dr. Ulvi Can Ünlügenç said, "Since this region is a shear zone and a tectonically complex and weak zone, it is the most normal and expected region where the potential energy accumulated in the earth's crust can easily be transformed into kinetic energy. I do not think that earthquakes of these magnitudes will cause great harm to our people. It is more beneficial for the region if the energy accumulated in the earth's crust is released from time to time through such small-scale tremors. Because the potential energy that has accumulated in the earth's crust for a very long time is released with small oscillations rather than being released suddenly. "There will continue to be some seismic activity in the region where the last earthquakes occurred. Our opinion for the future is that this region is an area that can produce earthquakes between 5 and 5.8," he said.
'EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT CITIES SHOULD BE CREATED'
Underlining that Türkiye is an earthquake zone due to its location, Ünlügenç said, "The earth's crust is constantly in motion. As long as the plates compress each other and produce potential energy lost along each other's borders, we will experience these earthquakes especially in weak zones in our country. As stated in the regulations, it is necessary to ensure construction and create earthquake-resistant cities. When earthquakes of magnitude 7 or more occur in developed countries, people do not run away from their buildings, they enter their buildings to protect themselves. It should be like this in our country too."
