Turkish seismologist Professor Osman Bektas announced that next week will be crucial for assessing seismic activity in the Istanbul region following a series of small earthquakes in the Sea of Marmara.
According to the scientist, a series of small earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 3.5 were recorded in the central basin of the Sea of Marmara at depths ranging between 6 and 9 kilometers.
He added that such events usually indicate a redistribution of pressure in certain parts of the fault as a result of minor movements
Bektas said: "This in itself is not a harbinger of a strong earthquake, but the next three to seven days will be among the most important scientific indicators," as reported by the newspaper Ekonomim.
The seismologist indicated that the main indicator for specialists would be the probability of an earthquake exceeding magnitude 4 occurring within the next three to seven days. According to him, this would allow for a better understanding of the current fault line and the nature of the ongoing processes.
The expert called for not limiting expectations to a single devastating earthquake scenario with a magnitude exceeding 7.
He considered that the seismic situation in the Sea of Marmara could develop according to several scenarios, and that the question of whether the fault is closed or moving slowly requires further research.
The Sea of Marmara lies on the North Anatolian Fault, one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
Following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Istanbul in the spring of 2025, Turkish scientists intensified monitoring of the area considered the most likely location for another strong earthquake near Istanbul.
