A major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, killing more than 3,600 people and wreaking havoc in the region. As rescue teams search for survivors through mounds of rubble, the death toll is being revised every few hours.
The disaster, the horrors of which are being reported every few minutes, has also brought back memories from the earthquake that struck the country in 1999 and killed more than 17,000 people.
Turkey is located in one of the planet’s seismically active regions, which means that this country is never immune to a calamity. The earthquake that has rattled Turkey and shaken its foundations has served as a brutal reminder of the omnipresent threat posed by its geological location.
Here are some of the worst earthquakes in Turkey of the past years:
August 1999
The 1999 İzmit earthquake in Turkey is widely considered as the worst earthquake in the country over the past 25 years. The earthquake struck on August 17, 1999, and had a magnitude of 7.4. It was centered in the Sea of Marmara, near the city of İzmit, and lasted for approximately 45 seconds.
The earthquake resulted in widespread damage and destruction across the Marmara region, with the cities of Istanbul, Yalova, and Adapazarı being particularly affected. Over 17,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake, and tens of thousands were injured. The earthquake also caused significant damage to infrastructure and buildings, with many buildings collapsing due to poor construction practices.
The İzmit earthquake was one of the deadliest and most destructive earthquakes to hit Turkey in history.
March 2010
The 2020 Elazığ earthquake was a significant earthquake that struck the Elazığ province in eastern Turkey on January 24, 2020. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and was centered near the city of Sivrice, approximately 17 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Elazığ.
The earthquake resulted in widespread damage and destruction, with many buildings collapsing in Elazığ and the surrounding areas. Over 41 people lost their lives in the earthquake, and over 1,600 were injured. The earthquake also caused significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted transportation and communication networks in the affected area.
The disaster response and recovery efforts were widely praised for their efficiency and effectiveness, with the Turkish government launching a large-scale relief and rescue operation.
October 2011
The 2011 Van earthquake was a significant earthquake that struck the province of Van in eastern Turkey on October 23, 2011. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and was centered near the city of Edremit, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the city of Van.
The earthquake resulted in widespread damage and destruction, with many buildings collapsing in Van and the surrounding areas. Over 600 people lost their lives in the earthquake, and thousands were injured. The earthquake also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and communication networks, and disrupted transportation and communication in the affected area.
The disaster response and recovery efforts were widely praised for their efficiency and effectiveness, with the Turkish government launching a large-scale relief and rescue operation.
January 2020
The 2020 Elazığ earthquake was a significant earthquake that struck the Elazığ province in eastern Turkey on January 24, 2020. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and was centered near the city of Sivrice, approximately 17 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Elazığ.
The earthquake resulted in widespread damage and destruction, with many buildings collapsing in Elazığ and the surrounding areas. Over 41 people lost their lives in the earthquake, and over 1,600 were injured. The earthquake also caused significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted transportation and communication networks in the affected area.
The disaster response and recovery efforts were widely praised for their efficiency and effectiveness, with the Turkish government launching a large-scale relief and rescue operation.
February 2023
The toll, which currently stands at more than 3,400 people, has increased rapidly since the first earthquake struck early on Monday morning. About more than 12 hours later, a second powerful tremor hit further north.
Rescuers have been combing through mountains of rubble in freezing and snowy conditions to find survivors.
Despite the efforts, the earthquake highlights the ongoing need for improved earthquake preparedness and mitigation measures in Turkey and other countries located in seismic zones.
