Adnan Evsen: “The earthquakes in Malatya and Sivas have nothing to do with Kayseri.”

Geologist Adnan Evsen stated that the recent earthquakes in Malatya and Sivas have no relation to Kayseri, saying, “When we look at the magnitudes and locations of these two earthquakes, they have neither the potential to trigger earthquakes in Kayseri nor any relation to the faults in Kayseri.”

Evaluating the earthquakes of 5.9 in Malatya’s Kale district and 4.7 and 4.1 in Sivas, Geologist Adnan Evsen said, “The movement of the African and Arabian plates beneath the Anatolian plate periodically creates earthquakes in the active faults in Turkey, resulting in earthquakes of varying magnitudes in different locations in our country. Therefore, the earthquakes we experienced in both Malatya and Sivas can be defined as ordinary, normal earthquakes after February 6. The earthquake that occurred in Kale district of Malatya was recorded as 6 in magnitude. The Kale Fault is approximately 22 kilometers long and considering its geometric features, it seems to have produced the largest earthquake it can generate. In this sense, there is no expectation of a larger earthquake near the Kale Fault and its vicinity. Such earthquakes, like this one, will be possible. There will not be a bigger earthquake than this; we currently have no such expectation. In Sivas, there was a double earthquake of magnitudes 4.7 and 4.1, occurring 10 minutes apart. Looking at the location where the earthquake occurred, it took place approximately 17 kilometers northwest of the Deliler Fault. At the location of the earthquake, no active fault is visible on the Turkey Fault Map. In this sense, the earthquakes of magnitudes 4.7 and 4.1 are considered independent earthquakes that were triggered.”

“Including Kayseri in the fault area instills fear and panic among the public”
Evsen stated that the explanation by Seismologist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür, which said, ‘Earthquakes are within the Anatolian Fault zone. The zone has been active since the Oligocene. It is left-lateral, strike-slip. It extends from Erzincan to Mersin and passes through Kayseri. It can produce a large earthquake and is also known as the Ecemiş Fault,’ has instilled fear and panic among the public. Evsen said, “When we look south of the earthquake location, we see the Tecer Segment of the Deliler Fault. The Tecer Segment extends approximately 92 kilometers from Sivas to Kayseri, the Dökmetaş Segment is 44 kilometers long, the Sarıoğlan Segment is 37 kilometers long, and the Bünyan Segment is 26 kilometers long, making a total length of 199 kilometers for the Deliler Fault, which is a left-lateral strike-slip fault. The total potential for these faults to produce an earthquake is approximately between 6.0 and 6.5. However, paleoseismological studies are currently ongoing there. The actual size of the earthquake that could be generated will become clearer after these studies, and we will make our evaluations more accurately. Furthermore, the public’s perception of a fault length described as ‘there is a fault that is 730 kilometers long, and Kayseri is included in this fault,’ from the east of Erzincan to Sivas, from Sivas to Kayseri, and from Kayseri to Mersin, causes fear and panic among the public. Yes, when we stack these distances, such a long fault appears, but the faults starting from Erzincan, such as Ovacık, Deliler, Sarıoğlan, Bünyan, Erkilet, Sarıoğlan, Yeşilhisar, and Ecemiş Faults, Tecer, and Dökmetaş Segment, have different characteristics and reverse components. When you combine all these faults, it becomes a mess. I do not believe that combining them is a very accurate description,” he stated.
Evsen also added that the recent earthquakes will not trigger the faults in Kayseri, saying, “The earthquakes that occurred recently in Malatya and Sivas have no connection to the city of Kayseri whatsoever. Moreover, they have no relation to the East Anatolian Fault or the Deliler Fault. It is an earthquake that occurred in an undefined fault area. The earthquake that took place in Malatya occurred near the Kale Fault. When we look at both the magnitudes and locations of these two earthquakes, they have no potential to trigger earthquakes in Kayseri, nor any relation to the faults in Kayseri.”