Turkey is once again grappling with the aftermath of earthquakes, experiencing a flurry of tremors across several regions. In the past 48 hours, the country has recorded 879 small and large earthquakes, averaging 18 tremors per hour. According to local authorities, the initial earthquake struck the Balikesir province on Sunday, August 10th, with a magnitude of 6.6. This initial quake was followed by nearly 879 aftershocks. 120 tremors with a magnitude of 3-4 were felt, as well as 17 tremors with a magnitude of 4-5. The earthquake’s epicenter was located 11 km beneath the earth’s surface. Most of the tremors were less than 3 in magnitude. The Turkish Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the public not to panic, urging caution. The government has reported only one fatality due to the earthquakes, stating there have been no other casualties. However, 16 buildings in 68 villages have collapsed as a result of the quakes. A contractor involved in the construction of these buildings has been arrested.
Turkey’s frequent seismic activity stems from its location on the Anatolian, Eurasian, and Arabian tectonic plates. Any friction between these plates can trigger earthquakes in Turkey. Currently, two active fault lines, the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault, contribute to the country’s ongoing seismic events.
Since 1939, Turkey has experienced 13 major earthquakes, leading to approximately 120,000 fatalities. The most recent major earthquake in 2023 resulted in 50,000 deaths, prompting the Turkish government to focus on building construction regulations.
