The northward movement of the African plate is pushing Cyprus towards Anatolia. This geological compression is the primary cause of the earthquakes felt on the island.

The 5.2 and 5.4 magnitude earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cyprus yesterday have drawn renewed attention to the region’s geological structure and seismic risk. Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar, Chairman of the Presidential Earthquake Committee and Director of the Near East University Earthquake and Ground Research and Assessment Center, stated that the earthquakes recorded off the coast of Paphos were caused by movements in the subduction zone, which formed when the African plate moved northward and subducted beneath the Anatolian plate.

Prof. Dr. Atalar stated that an average of over 500 small and medium-sized earthquakes are recorded annually around Cyprus, emphasizing that the regional activity is a natural geological process. He emphasized that the vast majority of earthquakes worldwide occur at the boundaries of the tectonic plates that form the Earth’s crust. Prof. Dr. Atalar explained that there are seven major and fourteen minor plates in the world. He explained that Cyprus lies on the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates, saying, “The African plate is moving northward beneath the Anatolian plate at an average speed of 2.0-2.5 centimeters per year, creating significant tensions in this region, known as the Cyprus subduction zone. As a result of these tensions, earthquakes are felt from time to time in Cyprus and the surrounding area.”

What we need to do is make our buildings earthquake-resistant.

In his assessment, he noted that Cyprus lies in an active earthquake zone, warning, “Cyprus is an earthquake country. Earthquakes have been occurring in this region for years and will continue to occur. What we need to do is make our buildings earthquake-resistant.”

Prof. Dr. Atalar also highlighted the region’s seismic history, saying, “The largest earthquake in Cyprus in the last 130 years occurred on October 9, 1996, with a magnitude of 6.8. The second largest earthquake occurred on January 11, 2022, with a magnitude of 6.5.” Prof. Dr. Atalar continued, “We cannot prevent earthquakes, but we can be a country that does not collapse or lose lives in earthquakes. The way to do this is to make our buildings and cities earthquake-resistant.”