An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Istanbul in Turkey at noon on Wednesday. There were no fatalities, but 151 injuries. The area is prone to earthquakes due to the North Anatolian fault that often shakes also neighboring Greece.
Seismologist Kostas Papazachos at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University struck a cautiously optimistic tone following the earthquake in Turkey’s northern Marmara Sea.
Speaking to state broadcaster ERT, Papazachos noted that while the tremor was strong, it does not appear to pose a serious threat to Greece. However, he added “it is far too early to make any predictions about how this seismic activity might evolve.”
The quake occurred along a known right-lateral fault zone, where the lower plate shifts eastward and the upper remains mostly stationary. While the epicenter was near the fault’s center, the seismic sequence appears to be extending toward Istanbul. “This is a familiar rupture,” Papazachos said.
He added that this 6.2 R earthquake is not the long-feared “big one” expected further east, along fault segments that remain unbroken. “This is a relatively small event for this fault and likely to have very limited impact, possibly minor effects along coastal areas.”
The quake was only barely felt in Greece. However, Papazachos cautioned that the fault lies within a historically powerful seismic zone, which has produced quakes over a magnitude of 7.
“Given that, we must remain vigilant, though for now there’s no major cause for concern,” he concluded.
