Turkey is experiencing a period of intense seismic activity, with numerous earthquakes striking the nation. Over the past two days, the country has recorded 879 earthquakes, ranging in size, resulting in an average of 18 tremors every hour. The initial earthquake, occurring in the Balikesir province on August 10th, registered a magnitude of 6.6. This major event was followed by a sequence of aftershocks. Notably, there were 120 tremors with magnitudes between 3 and 4, alongside 17 events between magnitudes 4 and 5. The seismic activity originated 11 kilometers below the earth’s surface, with the majority of tremors being less than 3 in magnitude.
The Turkish government, represented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued guidance to the public, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm while taking necessary precautions. The government has reported one fatality associated with the recent earthquakes and has stated that no other casualties have been confirmed. Moreover, the earthquakes caused the collapse of 16 buildings in 68 villages, resulting in the arrest of a building contractor.
The country’s vulnerability to frequent earthquakes stems from its geographical positioning, where the Anatolian, Eurasian, and Arabian tectonic plates meet. The continuous interaction between these plates, including friction, is a major cause of the seismic events. Adding to this, two active fault lines, the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault, further contribute to the frequent occurrences of earthquakes.
Since 1939, Turkey has been struck by 13 major earthquakes, resulting in approximately 120,000 deaths. The devastating earthquake of 2023 claimed 50,000 lives, which led to a heightened emphasis on building standards by the Turkish government.