In 1999, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Marmara region of Turkey, killing at least 17,000 people. It also ruptured some parts of the North Anatolian fault line, creating a time bomb under the city of Istanbul. Experts warn that a magnitude 7 or above earthquake could strike the city at any given time in the next 30 years. "We are not ready," said Naci Gorur, a geologist and professor at Istanbul Technical University. "I'm afraid an earthquake in Istanbul will cause even more destruction than what we witnessed in the Kahramanmaras earthquake that struck Turkey's south in February 2023."

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Persons: Naci Gorur, Didem, Osman Ozbulut Organizations: Istanbul Technical University, University College London, University of Virginia Locations: Marmara, Turkey, Istanbul