A recent study has revealed that a massive earthquake threatens Istanbul, Turkey, and could lead to one of the worst human disasters in history.
According to the study published in the journal 'Science', powerful earthquakes are moving toward a locked fault zone 15 to 21 kilometers long, which scientists call the 'Main Marmara Fault'. It lies beneath the sea southwest of Istanbul, an area that has been suspiciously quiet since the 1766 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.1.
A report by 'The New York Times' warns that if a rupture occurs in that area, it could trigger an earthquake of magnitude 7 or more in the city of 16 million people. The report quoted Cornell University scientist Judith Hubbard, who warned that a very large earthquake could occur near Istanbul, and 'something terrifying is happening in the depths of the Sea of Marmara'.
The new study noted a notable sequence of four moderate-magnitude earthquakes, the last of which was a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in April 2025, directly east of the fault line.
The study indicates that the coming earthquake could be stronger than its predecessor and could occur directly under Istanbul.
Although some scientists believe this sequence may be a coincidence, the scientific consensus confirms that 'a devastating earthquake is coming' due to the dangerous buildup of pressure on the North Anatolian Fault.
Seismologist Patricia Martinez-Garzon, one of the authors of the new study, said that efforts should focus on 'early detection of any signals indicating something unusual, and on mitigating its effects', but she stressed that earthquakes 'cannot be predicted'.
