“Cyprus lies on an active fault line – sooner or later there will be an earthquake!: Prof. Dr. Naci Görür warn

Kyrenia, Cyprus — Speaking at the “Earthquake-Resilient Cyprus Symposium” held at the Acapulco Resort Hotel in Kyrenia, renowned Turkish geoscientist and earthquake expert Prof. Dr. Naci Görür emphasized that Cyprus lies on an active seismic zone and urged authorities and citizens to take immediate preventive measures to protect lives and property.

“Cyprus is the closest landmass to the boundary between the African and Anatolian tectonic plates. This region will inevitably be affected by earthquakes — if not today, then tomorrow,” Prof. Görür warned. “Cyprus is a country with earthquake potential.”

“We can make Cyprus earthquake-resistant within 10 years”

Prof. Görür underlined that although predicting the exact timing of an earthquake is impossible, preparation and prevention are essential.
He called on both the government and the public to work together continuously, stating, “If the authorities and the people act hand in hand and never stop working, Cyprus can become an earthquake-resilient country within ten years.”

Görür explained that an earthquake-resistant nation must strengthen its governance, infrastructure, building stock, environment, and economy, stressing that raising public awareness is the cornerstone of preparedness. “If people are not aware, no project will succeed,” he said.

Highlighting the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, Görür noted the enormous human and economic toll, urging Cyprus to learn from the tragedy: “Let us make Cyprus earthquake-resistant. When this threat comes, we must not lose our country or our people.”

Experts and industry leaders join forces

The symposium was jointly organized by the Cyprus Turkish Constructors Association (KTİMB) and Taşyapı Construction, bringing together engineers, scientists, and civil society leaders to discuss the island’s seismic risks.

KTİMB President Cafer Gürcafer described the 6 February earthquakes as a turning point for the region, calling for collective self-reflection and stronger political action. “We are still mourning the victims of the earthquake, yet we are not doing what must be done,” Gürcafer said. “Schools have been reinforced, but there is still no action plan for public buildings and housing.”

Taşyapı Construction Chairman Emrullah Turanlı expressed his support for all civil initiatives that aim to serve the public good. “A small community guided by science can change the world,” he said, adding that those who harm the environment “will lose, and we will prevail.”

Scientific insights: Cyprus and Türkiye among the most vulnerable

In his presentation, Dr. Fatih Sütçü, a structural engineering expert from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ), discussed “Innovative Technologies for Earthquake-Resistant Building Design.”
Sütçü noted that both Türkiye and Cyprus are among the few countries in the world where the entire landmass is at seismic risk.

He explained that earthquake-resistant buildings must combine durability, economic feasibility, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability, stressing that a structure’s resilience depends on all its components, not just its columns and beams.

Sütçü also highlighted the growing adoption of base-isolated buildings in Türkiye after the 2023 earthquakes, explaining their advantages and cost-effectiveness. “A building that becomes unusable after an earthquake cannot be considered to have survived it,” he added.

“Preparedness must never stop”

During the Q&A session, Prof. Görür reiterated the importance of continuous effort in disaster preparedness.
“If you want to prepare a country for earthquakes, you must never stop once you begin. You cannot say, ‘We’ll do it next month or next year.’ You must keep going without pause,” he said.

The event concluded with a reception attended by participants and speakers following nearly three hours of discussion.