Seismologists have warned that a spate of earthquakes or seismic swarm recorded in southern Turkey could continue in the coming days, after several earthquakes measuring 4.9 and 5.2 on the Richter scale shook the provinces of Adana and Osmaniye yesterday, just a few minutes apart. The seismic activity caused alarm amongst the population, although no reports of damage to property or injury were received.
The earthquakes in Adana and Osmaniye that occurred yesterday were recorded in the districts of Saimbeyli, in Adana, and Sumbas, in Osmaniye. The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) reported that an earthquake of magnitude 4.8 struck Saimbeyli at 14:19 yesterday, followed by another of magnitude 4.9 in the same district at 14:36 and by an quake of magnitude 5.2 in Sumbas at 14:43. The tremors occurred at depths of between 7 and 9 kilometres below the surface.
Initial assessments carried out by AFAD following the 5.2-magnitude earthquake recorded at least 16 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to 2.4. However, a total of 113 earthquakes of varying magnitudes were subsequently recorded in the region in the 24 hours alone following the main tremors.
Experts believe that the 2023 earthquakes triggered the faults in the region
In statements reported by various Turkish media outlets, the renowned seismologist Hasan Sözbilir, director of the Earthquake Research Centre at Izmir’s 9 September University, analysed the recent earthquakes in southern Turkey and pointed out that they occurred between the so-called Savrun and Saimbeyli faults.
“Both the Saimbeyli fault and the Savrun fault are considered tectonic faults in which energy has built up following the devastating earthquakes of 6 February 2023. In this stage, earthquakes of similar magnitudes may continue to occur in the form of a seismic swarm,” said Sözbilir.
The expert recalled that, following the earthquake of 6 February 2023, with its epicentre in the province of Kahramanmaraş, hundreds of earthquakes of up to magnitude 5 occurred from the south of Göksun – west of Kahramanmaraş – towards Kozan (Adana) and Kadirli (Osmaniye). As he explained, both the Saimbeyli and Savrun faults are considered areas where energy has built up following the earthquakes of 2023, which caused more than 53,000 deaths.
“Earthquakes of similar magnitudes may continue to occur in the form of a seismic swarm,” said the seismologist, who nevertheless stressed the importance of “the public not panicking and acting in accordance with the authorities’ instructions”. According to historical records, over the last century there have been 32 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher in this region of Turkey, the strongest of which was a 5.7-magnitude earthquake.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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