Turkey Earthquake Leaves 1km Rupture On Lakebed

These images show a white line of bubbles in the water above the place where the earth’s crust has divided under a Turkish lake that was caused by last month’s Elazig earthquake that killed 41 people.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Elazig in the eastern Turkish province of the same name on 24th January and Lake Karakaya was said to be the hypocenter. The hypocenter is the place where the strain in the rock occurred and resulted in the split.

Since the quake, a long rupture on the lakebed is made visible by gas floating from the split to the water surface with images showing a long white line which reportedly runs fo a kilometre.

Video Credit: CEN/General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration

The devastating earthquake killed 41 people and caused considerable damage to city buildings and homes, with thousands said to be displaced.

The earthquake’s hypocentre took place at Lake Karakaya and experts have been visiting the site for tests. The hypocenter is the place where the strained energy causes the rupture in the rock and is beneath the epicenter.

Dr. Akin Kurcer said: “In this area, where the Eastern Anatolian Fault passes from the Euphrates River to the southern coast, a great lineament has occurred on the water’s surface, possibly due to a water or gas outflow from the surface rupture at the bottom of the Euphrates River.”

In August 1999, Turkey suffered a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the city of Izmit and killed over 17,000 people.

In 2001, a quake in the eastern province of Van killed more than 500.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Lee BullenSub-EditorMichael Leidig,  Agency: Central European News

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