Turkey updates active fault map, raising count to 700
The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) has released an updated Turkey Active Fault Map, the first revision in 13 years. The new map shows a 44 % increase in identified active faults, from 485 to 700, based on extensive field work and academic research accelerated after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
Prof. Dr. Eyübhan Avcı of Bursa Technical University warned that the expanded fault data demands a reassessment of structural designs and risk analyses. He urged that new construction projects incorporate the latest fault locations and that seismic parameters be derived from AFAD spectra or site‑specific analyses to improve earthquake resilience.
The updated fault information is expected to influence building codes, regional risk assessments, and future engineering practices across Turkey.