Latest quake in Turkey leaves experts torn

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake that occurred in the Marmara Sea on Monday night has divided experts as to whether the temblor could be a precursor to further quakes.

Although experts at the country’s main seismological observatory, Kandilli, said the earthquake was standard for the Marmara Sea, other scientists believe more seismic activity might be on the way.

“This is normal activity for the Marmara Sea,” said Doğan Kalafat, director of the Kandilli Observatory. “There is nothing to cause panic now. I advise our citizens to remain calm.”

Others, however, were sounding a note of caution. “The epicenter of the earthquake is one of the places that might cause a bigger jolt. It might be a small one or it might be the harbinger of a bigger one,” said Şükrü Ersoy, head of the Natural Sciences Research Center. “Last night’s shake showed that the fault line is active.”

The quake, which occurred 6.9 kilometers below the seabed and was followed by seven aftershocks, did not cause any damage or injuries, but people over a wide area, including Istanbul, felt its vibrations.

 “The shake seems like it was on the same fault line that we expect to break. I cannot say that nothing will happen, it is hard to make such comments about this issue,” said Oğuz Gündoğdu of Istanbul University’s Geophysics Department.

But geophysics expert Ahmet Ercan said the jolt was a small earthquake and would not trigger a bigger one.

“There is nothing to be afraid of,” Ercan said. “The major Istanbul earthquake is one that we can predict ahead of time. We don’t expect a major one now.”


/Hurriyet Daily News/