Since the disastrous 1939 Erzincan earthquake , there have been seven earthquakes measuring over 7.0 in magnitude , each happening at a point progressively further west . Seismologists studying this pattern believe that each earthquake may trigger the next . By analyzing the stresses along the fault caused by each large earthquake , they were able to predict the shock that hit the town of İzmit with devastating effect in August 1999 . It is thought that the chain is not complete , and that an earthquake will soon strike further west along the fault – perhaps near the heavily populated city of Istanbul
1939 Erzincan earthquake
1939 Erzincan earthquake
North Anatolian Fault