Milli Gazete discussed the earthquake issue with Istanbul Rumeli University Lecturer, Department of Geophysical Engineer Specialist Professor of Seismology Prof. Dr. İlhan Osmanşahin.
Osmanşahin made important statements to the Milli Gazete and emphasized that the people who gave exaggerated and unfounded figures that would cause our people to fear about the expected earthquakes should not be respected by our people.
"There is only one question to be asked to them; what data and what kind of calculations did you determine? Believe me, they have no logical answer. It is not scientifically possible to say when and to what magnitude the earthquakes will be in today's conditions."
"When considering the fact that Turkey is an earthquake, the draw is not right to draw a rosy picture black table," said Prof. Dr. Osmanşahin.
"We need not be afraid of earthquakes, but to be able to live with earthquakes is not to be done. For this reason, earthquakes should be kept on the agenda, not when they occur. However, this agenda should not be intimidated by our people, but on the contrary, it should be based on raising awareness about what needs to be done in order to survive with the least loss by knowing and accepting what happens and will happen."
Turkey's never-ending agenda
Turkey, after the devastating earthquake that occurred on 17 August 1999 has forgotten the last twenty years. In recent months many small and medium-sized earthquake, west to east, north to south across Turkey to finally jolt shook Turkey's agenda with the experienced 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul was again.
Large energy accumulation required for big earthquake
Interpreting the Marmara earthquakes, Osmanşahin said, "the last two destructive Marmara region earthquakes occurred in 1894 and 1999. There is a movement of about 2 meters in total time, which is more than 2 centimeters per year, and this is the average value of the break in the 1999 earthquake."
QUESTION: Sir, after the earthquake of 5.8 magnitude occurred in Istanbul, after the devastation of the 1999 earthquake in which we live again sat on the agenda of Turkey. Almost every day, there are various scenarios, forecasts and even more speculations in social media. For example, "There will be an earthquake at 4 am". What do you want to say about such discourses that make the public uneasy? Is it possible to predict and predict earthquakes? Can the warning systems predict the earthquake? Where is science about earthquakes?
ANSWER: We all know; The natural riches and beauties of our country are at the highest level. We can say that this is largely the work of natural phenomena. Consider floods and landslides, collapses, volcanoes, and most importantly earthquakes caused by movements of large land masses. Mountains, plains, lakes, straits, all kinds of geographic formations that come to mind have been shaped as a result of all these natural phenomena that have been going on for millions and even billions of years and continue to take shape. Turkey, the most important earthquakes located on the Alpine-Himalayan seismic zone earthquake risk zone, one of the world's high country. For this reason, earthquakes should be kept on the agenda, not when they occur. However, this agenda should not be intimidated by our people, but on the contrary, it should be based on awareness of what should be done to overcome the least loss by knowing and accepting what is going to happen.