Seismic hazard in Istanbul is driven by tectonic motions + 1999 Izmit earthquake

The area around the Marmara Sea is one of the most seismically active in the world. There are many faults (blue), and recorded earthquakes (red). These are all driven by the motion of the tectonic plates: the area to the south is moving ~25 mm to the west every year (yellow arrows).

For Istanbul, the fault just west of the 1999 M7.6 İzmit earthquake is t…