# Seismic Hazard Evaluation and Strain Dynamics in the
## 2 Tectonic Settings  
Under the influence of the Hellenic-Cyprus subduction zone, Western Anatolia has undergone extensional deformation, resulting in the formation of host-graben structures bounded by parallel normal or oblique faults. These structures, including the Edremit, Bakircay, Simav, Gediz, Kucuk Menderes, Buyuk Menderes, and Gokova Gulf grabens, define the Western Anatolian Extensional Province (WAEP) [45; 46]. In addition to its morphotectonic characteristics and ongoing macroseismic activity, the oblique, dip-slip normal fault segments within the fault system promote the development of numerous host and graben structures parallel to the overall trend of the system. The ASFS has been the focus of numerous studies by researchers over time due to its unique natural geomorphological characteristics [47; 48; 49; 50; 51]. The SFZ forms the northwestern extension of the Aksehr-Simav Fault System (ASFS), one of the major seismogenic zones within the WAEP, extending approximately 500 km from Konya in the east to Balikesir in the west [62]. As a vital component of the extensional tectonic regime affecting Western Anatolia, the Simav Fault Zone (SFZ) is an active fault system extending approximately 205 km in a NW-SE direction between Sundrigi (Balikesir) and Afyon. To the west, it is bounded by the NE-trending Gelenbe Fault Zone (GFZ) [40; 63; 64; 65]. The SFZ consists of seven segments, named from west to east as follows: (i) Sundrigi Segment (35 km long, trend: 267-306\({}^{\circ}\)), (ii) Caysimav Segment (54 km long, trend: 277-308\({}^{\circ}\)), (iii) Saphane Segment (23 km long, trend: 286-312\({}^{\circ}\)), (iv) Abide Segment (33 km long, trend: 287-308\({}^{\circ}\)), (v) Banaz Segment (24 km long, trend: 3-359\({}^{\circ}\)), (vi) Elvanpasa Segment (27 km long, trend: 270-298\({}^{\circ}\)), and (vii) Sinanpasa Segment (18 km long, trend: 303-323\({}^{\circ}\)) [43; 48; 56; 62; 66] (Table 1). Considering its length and multi-segmented structure, the SFZ is one of the key source zones in Western Anatolia. It has been thoroughly investigated by many researchers, who have proposed different interpretations regarding its fault characteristics [57; 64; 66; 69; 70; 71; 72; 73; 74]. As stated by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [54], [PERSON] et al. [65], [PERSON] and [PERSON] [57], and [PERSON] et al. [74], the SFZ exhibits an oblique-slip character, with normal faulting being the dominant mechanism. Additionally, [PERSON] et al. [58] and [PERSON] et al. [66] highlight that the region was initially dominated by compressional tectonics during the Early Miocene, followed by extensional tectonics in the Quaternary. They also indicate that the Simav Fault initially functioned as a strike-slip normal fault and later evolved into a dip-slip normal fault, remaining active to this day. [PERSON] et al. [75] further state that the earthquake source parameters exhibit a normal faulting mechanism with a strike-slip component. Opposing views to these suggestions emphasized that the SFZ should be considered as an important seismogenic zone with a strike-slip mechanism within the current tectonics of Western Anatolia and stated that the SFZ is a strike-slip active fault system [64]. Unlike these two views, [PERSON] et al. [72] pointed out that different faulting mechanisms were observed in different segments of the fault as a result of paleoseismological studies. In addition to these inferences, all segments of the SFZ were defined as right-lateral in the MTA Active Fault Database [43]. In geodetic studies conducted in the region using GNSS data, [PERSON] et al. [39] emphasize that the Simav Fault Zone (SFZ) exhibits a strike-slip structure with a normal faulting component. However, according to the most recent study in the region by [PERSON] et al. [76], in contrast to previous findings, the fault is characterized by predominantly normal faulting behavior. During the instrumental period, approximately 450 earthquakes with M \(\geq\) 4 and 79 earthquakes with M \(\geq\) 5 have occurred in SFZ and its surrounding regions (Figure 2).