Displaying items by tag: Istanbul

The recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake which struck Istanbul on 23 April is being seen as a serious warning rather than a release of seismic energy, according to Japanese earthquake expert Yoshinori Moriwaki. While the quake caused no fatalities, he warned that a larger quake, possibly over magnitude 7.0, is likely in the coming twelve to fifteen years. Istanbul lies near the North Anatolian Fault (NAF), a historically active fault line responsible for many major earthquakes across Türkiye. Moriwaki explained that the NAF, along with the South Marmara Fault, poses a continued risk to the Marmara region, with Istanbul particularly vulnerable due to soft ground in coastal districts. He urged residents not to panic but to be prepared, looking for ground stability and building regulations when choosing homes. The April quake triggered hundreds of aftershocks and follows patterns seen in destructive historical events. Despite the threat, Moriwaki remains hopeful that awareness and preparation can mitigate future damage and save lives.

On 11 October, a long-awaited day, St Ephrem Church in Istanbul was opened - the first Christian place of worship to be built in Türkiye in a hundred years. Around 20,000 Syriac Orthodox live in the metropolis, but until now they had only one church. Archbishop Yusuf Cetin said: ‘At some big ceremonies, more than half of the congregation stood outside. That is difficult when it is very cold or very hot. That's why in 2010 years ago we visited the president and the prime minister and started a dialogue.’ Following this, the congregation was allocated a plot of land and bureaucratic hurdles were overcome. These included a court case with the Catholic community in the area. However, if you ask the Catholics in Istanbul today, there is no longer any talk of a dispute. The building of the church is a historic event, says Fr Claudio Monge: ‘Not only all Christians, but also all those who have worked for an inclusive country that respects diversity and considers it an enrichment, can only rejoice!’