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Nature and EnvironmentTurkey

Istanbul - The Threat of a Major Earthquake

September 7, 2023

Many experts believe that Istanbul will soon be hit by a major earthquake — potentially one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history. It’s only a matter of time.

https://p.dw.com/p/4VPL3
Videostill Dokumentation | Istanbul am Abgrund - Keine Rettung vor dem Megabeben?
Image: SWR
Videostill Dokumentation | Istanbul am Abgrund - Keine Rettung vor dem Megabeben?
Image: SWR

Istanbul is located directly on the North Anatolian Fault, between two tectonic plates. These move apart by two to three centimeters a year, over a length of 1,200 kilometers. This is why severe earthquakes in the region are a regular occurrence. A quake in Istanbul itself is only a matter of time and will affect millions of people. An earthquake with a predicted magnitude of 6 to 7 on the Richter scale would devastate the city.

Videostill Dokumentation | Istanbul am Abgrund - Keine Rettung vor dem Megabeben?
Image: SWR

 

Actress and filmmaker Nisan Arikan witnessed a severe quake in the region when she was nine years old. Together with geophysicist Patricia Martinez-Garzon, who researches the earthquake risk in Istanbul, she sets out to find solutions. How can the city’s 16 million residents prepare for a worst-case scenario?

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

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WED 04.10.2023 – 01:15 UTC
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