Earthquake Risk In Cappadocia

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; On February 6, 2023, thousands of people lost their lives or were injured in the earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 in Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. This “disaster of the century”, which affected 10 provinces in total, shook Turkey and the whole world deeply. In Turkey, which is an earthquake country in general, the agenda is completely earthquake. Well, is there an earthquake risk in Cappadocia? In this article, we will answer the question of whether there is an earthquake risk in Cappadocia.

When we look at the Cappadocia Region in Nevşehir province, we see that the region is located in the 4th degree earthquake zone. This means that Nevşehir and Cappadocia Region are among the provinces with the lowest earthquake risk within the borders of Turkey.

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Earthquake Zone in Cappadocia

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; When we look at the “Turkey Earthquake Map” of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), which was updated and put into effect in 2019, the areas shown in dark red are first degree earthquake zones, and North Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia and Western Anatolia Earthquake belts are visible. Earthquakes in these regions can cause major disasters. These regions are located in the 1st degree seismic belt. As you go from dark to light on the map, 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree earthquake zones are seen, respectively.

What is the Earthquake Risk in Cappadocia?

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; When we look at the Cappadocia Region in Nevşehir province, we see that the region is located in the 4th degree earthquake zone. This means that Nevşehir and Cappadocia Region are among the provinces with the lowest earthquake risk within the borders of Turkey. However, this situation should not be interpreted as an earthquake will not occur in any way. However, by examining the data above, we can say that the risk of severe earthquakes in Nevşehir is much less compared to other provinces in Turkey.

Due to the low earthquake risk in Nevşehir province, it is shown among the safest regions in Turkey in this respect. Although large-scale earthquakes are not expected in the region, small-scale earthquakes do occur from time to time. These earthquakes are mostly not felt.

When Was The Biggest Earthquake In Cappadocia?

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; When the earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 and above that took place in Nevşehir in the past are examined, it was recorded that there was an earthquake of 4.3 on 27/05/1900. After this date, no major earthquake with a magnitude of 4 has been found in official records. The majority of the earthquakes felt in Nevşehir were caused by earthquakes in the surrounding provinces.

Will There Be an Earthquake in Cappadocia?

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; Since Cappadocia is located in the 4th earthquake belt, possible earthquakes are not expected to be destructive. According to earthquake experts, Cappadocia is the most reliable region of Turkey for earthquakes. The Cappadocia Region is covered with volcanic rocks and rocks up to a thousand meters in depth. As an earthquake fault, the Gümüşkent fault located in the northwest of the region is not an active fault. In other words, it is not a fault that will produce an earthquake. The Derinkuyu fault in the southeast of the region is not an active fault either. Therefore, Nevşehir province is not in a position to be affected by earthquakes that may occur in the vicinity.

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What are the Conditions of the Buildings in Cappadocia?

Earthquake risk in Cappadocia; After the last major earthquake disaster in Turkey, the question of what is the condition of the buildings in Nevşehir has come to many people’s minds. There are cases such as being in multi-storey buildings throughout Nevşehir and even some buildings being close to stream beds. Likewise, the old buildings especially in the city center should be reviewed.