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April 25, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
The Mw6.2 earthquake that struck off the coast of Silivri in the Marmara Sea on April 23, 2025 raises concerns that a critical segment of the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault may have been activated. Unlike the Mw5.8 earthquake in 2019, this event, characterized by a right-lateral strike-slip mechanism, indicates that stress accumulation continues on an unbroken fault segment in the region.
The aftershocks migrating eastward following the earthquake have heightened concerns regarding the timing of the anticipated major Marmara earthquake. Experts are warning that seismic activity in the region must be closely monitored. In a preliminary assessment report prepared by Ahu Kömeç (PhD) and Ülgen Mert (PhD), faculty members at the Gebze Technical University Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, it is suggested that this earthquake could either hasten the occurrence of the major earthquake or signal the beginning of a new period of seismic activity on the eastern segment of the fault.
According to official data, the earthquake did not cause any destruction or loss of life in Istanbul. However, a total of 1,399 building damage reports were filed from Bursa, Balıkesir, Tekirdağ, and Yalova, with minor damage identified in seven buildings.
Experts emphasize that due to factors such as the distance of the earthquake's epicenter, its magnitude, and the length of the ruptured fault, this event should not be considered a test for Istanbul’s building stock. Nevertheless, it has once again highlighted the critical importance of technologies such as Earthquake Early Warning Systems and Structural Health Monitoring Systems in the Marmara Region.
The Mw6.2 earthquake occurred along the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault, consistent with the fault's characteristic right-lateral strike-slip behavior. This event notably differs from the Mw5.8 normal faulting earthquake that occurred in the same region on September 26, 2019, and clearly shows that stress accumulation on the unbroken fault segment is ongoing.
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