Citizens of Istanbul have started the day with a series of earthquakes. At the early hours of 25th June, two earthquakes whose epicentre was Yalova – a city located in Marmara Region of Turkey on the margin of Marmara Sea. According to Kandilli Observatory’s report, earthquake occurred at 8:40 in the offshore waters of Yalova. The earthquake occurred at 6, 8 km depth to the surface. According to the same report, a foreshock with 3.0 magnitude occurred 10 minutes before the principal earthquake. The epicentre of this foreshock was in the eastern side of Marmara Sea. Harmonic tremors of the principal earthquake were intensively perceived in Istanbul and nearby cities.
Earthquakes caused horror and panic in public. Istanbul residents took to the streets and couldn’t return to their homes until they got out of the shock. The earthquake reminds public about expected the great Istanbul earthquake. As it can be remembered, a large earthquake occurred in Gölcük – about 70 km away from Istanbul – in 1999 and caused death of 17.000 people and nearly 100.000 people got wounded.
Experts have been expecting a great earthquake which would have approximately 7. 0 magnitude. With regard to experts’ opinion, such a large earthquake gives rise to a fearful disaster like the Gölcük earthquake caused. In addition, it’s almost certain for Istanbul to experience a 4-meter tsunami wave in case of a 7, 0 magnitude earthquake. The expected great Istanbul earthquake would kill 50.000 of citizens and wound millions. Specialists have been working in order to produce an early warning system which may save thousands of lives.
Born and raised in Istanbul where I’m a medical student at YeditepeUniversity.