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According to Professor Jerzy Żaba, a geologist from the Earth Science Faculty of the University of Silesia, earthquakes in Turkey are a natural phenomenon. The specific geographical location is responsible for them. Żaba: “We knew that an earthquake in Turkey would occur within a few or more years.”
As explained by Prof. Żaba, earthquakes in the region of Turkey occur due to a very specific tectonic structure. This area is located at the confluence of tectonic plates of different sizes – the Anatolian plate, called the Turkish plate, on which most of Turkey lies, the Arabian plate and the African plate.
“The African plate has tended to move northwards at a rate of 4-6 cm per year for millions of years. The same process caused the formation of the Alps and the Carpathians. This is a long-term process, impossible to control by humans and independent of us in any way.”,
explained the scientist from the University of Silesia.
Numerous submarine faults and continental movements develop in this way. Earthquakes occur along these faults.
The professor recalled that the last major earthquake in Turkey took place in October 2011, with a magnitude of 7.5.
600 people died then. Asked if 12 years since the last earthquake in the region was a long time, he replied that it was “average value; neither much nor little”.
The scientist did not exclude further tremors in Turkey, but stipulated that they could not be predicted.
“Various faults can become active. But science will not predict it.”,
admitted Prof. Żaba.