📩 02/10/2023 10:22
Within the scope of the project titled "Paleoseismological Analysis and Earthquake Potential of Active Faults in İzmir Province", in which Dokuz Eylül University (DEÜ), Afyon Kocatepe, Sivas Yüzüncü Yıl and Çukurova universities are stakeholders, a trench was opened and an investigation was initiated in the Gümüldür fault.
Experts; Stating that the Gümüldür Fault, which has never been researched before, has the potential to produce a 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the trench; He noted that he will give clues about how much time is left before a possible major earthquake that may occur in Izmir and its surroundings.
Earthquake Research and Application Center (DAUM) Director Prof. stated that Dokuz Eylül University is a leading institution in such projects in accordance with the Research University mission. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir said that the academics involved in the project examined the Gümüldür fault, one of the 17 living faults in İzmir, for the first time. Prof. Dr. Sözbilir noted that the samples taken from the excavated trench and the fault will provide important data that can be taken in order to be less affected by the earthquake, and said, “Gümüldür fault, which has a very high potential to produce earthquakes; It is a fault in the region between Payamlı and Özdere, 30 kilometers long and forming the northern border of Kuşadası Bay. We will examine the trench we dug and take samples from the fault section to find the age of old earthquakes. Afterwards, we plan to obtain results such as the characteristics of the fault, the earthquakes it has produced in the past and their frequency. Dig trench and samples taken; "It will show us what magnitude of earthquake the fault can produce, its production period and the measures that can be taken as a result," he said.
'IT CAN ANSWER THE SAMOS EARTHQUAKE'
DAUM Director Prof. stated that the Gümüldür fault was the closest fault to the big earthquake that occurred in Samos 3 years ago. Dr. Hasan Sözbilir said, “We are also investigating the response of the Gümüldür fault to the energy of the Samos earthquake that occurred 3 years ago. "The data obtained will be shared with public institutions and will form the basis of the measures to be taken," he said. Sözbilir stated that there are very few people trained in Paleoseismology (investigation of old earthquake traces long after earthquakes occur) in our country and said, “With the TUBITAK projects we have been carrying out for the last 10 years, we have also been training master's and PhD students in the field of Paleoseismology. "We conduct regional research in accordance with the vision of our Research University and, together with the scientists of the future, we reach important findings for our city," he said.