Scientists have been investigating a mountain in Kahramanmaras district that was the epicenter of two strong earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale on February 6, after reports of volcanic activity there, Hurriyet Daily News and BTA reported. .
A Twitter post showing alleged volcanic activity at Mount Kuscayasu in the Goksun area has caused alarm and excitement and raised many questions.
To investigate the alarming claim, geologists from various Turkish universities and specialists from earthquake research centers visited the area. A delegation of geologists and teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) arrived at the site by military helicopter and carried out surveys.
Geologist Prof. Ahmet Yovgun Ercan explained the phenomenon observed a few days ago in the Kuscayas Mountain as a “volcanic lahar” – a mud flow of volcanic origin, mixed with water, volcanic ash, pumice and various minerals, which move very quickly. According to the scientist, the earthquake drove magma to a depth of 41 km and triggered a volcano by erupting hot liquid basalt at a temperature of about 2000 degrees Celsius.
“The lava, ash and water vapor melted the snow on the mountain and flowed towards its foot at a speed of 40-60 km/h as a hot fluid together with the mud from the deep crack formed by the earthquake in the Kuşkayasu mountain. If there was a settlement, it would have be fatal. This is called a “volcanic lahar,” Prof. Ercan was quoted as saying by Jumhuriyet.
Scientists who have studied the area agree that there is no volcanic activity.
“There is no volcanic activity in the region,” said Prof. Çağlar Özkaymak of Kocaitepe University, a member of the delegation sent to the site.
The well-known earthquake specialist Naji Görür also agrees with this conclusion, and he also stated that the assumptions about volcanic activity are incorrect. “The geology of the region is not compatible with volcanic activity,” he said.
