New Disaster Warning Issued in Turkey

Renowned Turkish seismologist Professor Ahmet Ertjan made a striking statement yesterday regarding the potential tsunami resulting from a major earthquake in the Marmara, Mediterranean, Aegean, and even Black Sea regions.

In the Sea of Marmara, where a significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 is anticipated in Istanbul, powerful waves will be generated that will reach the shore in a very short time. According to Ertjan, the danger is heightened in the narrow straits along the 16 million-strong city.

He also explained how long it would take for the tsunami to reach the shores of the Marmara, Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas following the earthquake. Ertjan mentioned that the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the Marmara Sea region, which includes the metropolitan area of Istanbul, could generate waves ranging from 1 to 2.5 meters, with heights potentially reaching up to 5 meters.

The Black Sea is expected to be the least affected due to its distance from seismic activity, whereas the faults in the Marmara Sea will have the most significant impact. The tsunami is forecasted to reach the shore between 4 to 20 minutes after the earthquake.

Istanbul is preparing for this disaster. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Environmental Improvement Department has initiated a Tsunami Action Plan. Warning signs have been installed in 17 districts along the coast of the Sea of Marmara. In total, more than 100 signs have been placed in Silivri, Beylikdüzü, Avcılar, Küçükçekmece, Bakırköy, Zeytinburnu, Fatih, Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Üsküdar, Kadıköy, Maltepe, Kartal, Pendik, and the Prince Islands.

The aim of these measures is to minimize possible losses caused by the tsunami and to determine the precautionary steps to ensure that vital structures along the coast of the Sea of Marmara are not harmed or are minimized.