Unfortunately, we have learned through many bitter experiences that our country sits on some of the most active fault lines in the world. As if that were not enough, numerous disasters, especially floods, landslides and forest fires, constantly threaten our country. But we don’t even realize it There is another danger we face. volcanic eruptions. Yes, there are many active but dormant volcanoes in our country, such as Mount Erciyes.

Don’t worry, they won’t explode tomorrow, but like an earthquake, we’re sure they will one day. Many people are actually more concerned about the explosion than the explosion. Whether active volcanoes will cause major earthquakes such as on February 6, 2023 I wonder. In fact, the outflow of hot water in these volcanoes scared those who heard about it.

Characteristics of Erciyes Mountain: location, altitude and volcanism

Mount Erciyes is a stratovolcano bordering the plains called Sultansazlığı, located in the southwestern region 25 kilometers away from Kayseri Province. It is estimated that it was formed about 20 million years ago. Mount Erciyes, with its peak of 3917 meters, is the highest mountain in our Central Anatolia region. It covers a very large area of ​​3300 square kilometers.

Mount Erciyes is a stara volcano, that is, a volcano composed of hardened ash, tuff and an ash layer. According to the coins from Roman times It is believed that Mount Erciyes last erupted in 253 BC. Mount Erciyes is a volcanic structure that is active but has been inactive for a long time.

Could Mount Erciyes wake up one day and explode?

As we previously explained in detail in our article here, in our country There are 15 volcanoes, 10 of which are active and 5 of which have the potential to become active. Technically, for a volcano to be considered active, it must have last erupted 10,000 years ago. Since it has been a little over two thousand years since Mount Erciyes erupted, we can say that it is quite active.

According to the report of the research jointly conducted by TÜBİTAK and the University of Bristol, our country, It is the 14th riskiest country among the world’s 95 countries with volcanic activity. The chance of a volcanic eruption in our country in 2100 is more than 70 percent. The reason why this percentage poses a risk is that there are dense settlements around volcanic structures and therefore even a small eruption can have serious consequences.

Is there a connection between Mount Erciyes, an active volcano, and the February 6 earthquakes?

Established in Kahramanmaraş, Pazarcık and Elbistan on February 6, 2023 Earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.8 and 7.5 Unfortunately, this has caused us to lose tens of thousands of people. This earthquake, one of the largest disasters our country has experienced, was followed by successive aftershocks and the damage increased incredibly.

Shortly after the February 6 earthquakes, an interesting change was observed on Mount Erciyes. An outflow of water occurred around the mountain with temperatures reaching 86 degrees. Then everyone thought there was a connection between these two events, but there is no connection. But there is indeed a connection between hot water production and earthquakes.

How true is the rumor that volcanic activity started by the release of hot water?

The fact that such a warm water discharge around Mount Erciyes immediately raised the possibility of a volcanic eruption caused great concern. Paleoseismology expert Prof. Dr. Ramazan Demirtaş said the outflow of warm water is extremely normal and not related to the volcanic eruption or the February 6 earthquakes.

According to Demirtaş, between February 28 and March 10, 2023 There were many small earthquakes around Mount Erciyes with magnitudes ranging between 4.3 and 4.9. As the faults opened superficially, hot water flowed out. Such events are known to be extremely common as secondary effects of earthquakes.

So when should we suspect a volcanic eruption?

Once again, paleoseismology expert Prof. Dr. According to Ramazan Demirtaş, we don’t have to worry about a volcano immediately erupting with a very big earthquake or a few small earthquakes. If you are in and around Mount Erciyes When thousands or even tens of thousands of micro-earthquakes occur in a very short time That is when the possibility of a volcanic eruption can arise. But as with earthquakes, it is not possible to know in advance when volcanoes will erupt.

What should we do if one day a volcano erupts in our country?

Statistics don’t lie. Maybe not tomorrow, but one day there will certainly be a volcanic eruption in our country. When that day comes We have to be prepared for it, just like any disaster. Preparing an emergency bag, such as an earthquake bag, is the first thing you should do because it may be impossible to meet basic needs at that time.

When such a disaster occurs, you must listen to the authorities. Because Depending on the scale of the disaster, an emergency evacuation may be necessary. As soon as the evacuation order comes, you should immediately take your emergency bag and leave the area or go to areas designated by the authorities. Unlike the earthquake bag, you should have an N-95 mask in your emergency bag because during a volcanic eruption a terrible ash cloud covers everything.

In some cases, authorities are not evacuating but telling people to stay home. You must strictly comply with this order and above all You need to replenish it with plenty of water. If you have to go outside, be sure to wear outer clothing and take it off when you enter the house. Because the ash sticks to you. It is extremely important to protect your eyes from this ash. In such a situation, of course, don’t forget to help those less fortunate than you.

It is one of the active volcanoes in our country. Will Mount Erciyes explode one day and what is the connection with the February 6 earthquakes? We have answered frequently asked questions, such as: No matter the magnitude of the disaster, please remember to keep a cool head and listen to science instead of false information.