Earthquakes: For a Future Without Fears

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From ancient times to the present day, there have been countless earthquakes in Turkiye that have caused thousands of deaths across the country. According to the seismic risk map, 96% of Turkish territory is at risk of earthquakes, with 98% of the population living in high-risk regions. Seismic activity in Turkiye and the surrounding areas is strongly related to the complex tectonic processes between the Eurasian, African and Arabian plates. As such, the country, situated on the Anatolian plate (between the Eurasian, African and Arabian plates), which is characterised by intense seismic activity, has suffered significant earthquakes throughout its history. According to the available data, from 1900 to the present day, the country has recorded 269 earthquakes, 20 of which were of magnitude 7 or higher (AFAD, 2023). These include the Kahramanmaras earthquake in 2023, the Erzincan earthquake in 1939 and the Marmara earthquake in 1999. These were the earthquakes that caused the greatest number of victims and economic losses. From the general to the particular, Muş is a province made up of 6 districts (Merkez, Varto, Malazgirt, Hasköy, Bulanık, Korkut) located in a zone of intense seismic activity. According to data provided by AFAD, an earthquake occurs in the region where Muş is located (Eastern Anatolia) every 13 days. The same source states that Muş is one of the 10 provinces most affected by earthquakes. That said, it is necessary to adopt measures that increase the effective awareness of the population and minimise the possible damage caused by an earthquake. That said, the “Earthquakes: For a Future without Fears” project emerges, aiming to involve various stakeholders through a comprehensive approach (as proposed by AFAD) to increase community awareness and literacy levels in earthquake-related domains, leading to the minimization of potential earthquake damages.