In response to the recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Istanbul, Professor Kostas Synolakis discussed the potential seismic risks for Greece. He highlighted that this earthquake occurred along the well-known North Anatolian Fault Zone, which extends into the North Aegean Sea. Major earthquakes from this fault tend to move westward towards Greek territory. Specifically, he mentioned that large earthquakes exceeding a magnitude of 7 could potentially impact Greece. However, Synolakis reassured the public that the recent quake is unlikely to activate tectonic structures within Greece, thus immediate concern isn’t necessary.
Moreover, he reiterated the long-standing prediction of a significant earthquake in Istanbul, expecting one with a magnitude of 7.5 or higher over the past two decades. Most alarmingly, Synolakis confirmed previous research suggesting that Greece’s subduction zone could produce an earthquake exceeding 8.0 on the Richter scale. This assessment comes from studies conducted by Oxford and Cambridge Universities focusing on the arc south of Rhodes and Crete, extending westward through the Peloponnese and Ionian Islands.