On February 6, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck the southern provinces of Turkey and northwestern Syria. More than 47,000 people died as a result. In Turkey, property damage was estimated at $70 billion. On February 20, an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred in the same region, which led to new destruction and casualties.
As Anna Lyusina, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, geophysicist and seismologist, told The Insider, “earthquakes are possible for another year and a half, before seismicity in this region becomes background.” According to her, this forecast is based on empirical data.
“There are two faults, North Anatolian and East Anatolian, and there is always a little seismicity, somewhere with a magnitude of 2-3. Until the magnitudes become about this level, earthquakes will continue, ”the expert said.
Turkey's largest city, Istanbul (population over 15 million), is also in danger, she said. “Istanbul is located near the North Anatolian Fault, so large destructive earthquakes are also possible there,” Lyusina explained.