Magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 Earthquakes Hit Türkiye

Magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 Earthquakes Hit Türkiye, Causing Major Destruction and Loss of Life

I. Introduction
● On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of at least Mw 7.8
struck Southern and Central Türkiye and Northern and Western Syria.
● Another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit Kahramanmaraş, Elbistan, later that day,
causing additional damages and loss of lives in 10 provinces.

● The quake was followed by multiple aftershocks and resulted in widespread destruction,
including the collapse of a 2,000 year-old castle in Gaziantep.

II. Location and Seismic Activity
● Türkiye is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, located at the
meeting point of several tectonic plates.
● The country is prone to earthquakes and this latest event was the deadliest and strongest
earthquake in Türkiye since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake.
● With a magnitude of 7.8 and 7.5, the earthquakes in Türkiye are considered major by
causing serious damages. Here below, is an explanation of the different earthquake’s
strengths:

III. Impact on Infrastructure
● The city's infrastructure and buildings have been severely impacted by the earthquake and
will require significant resources and time to fully restore.

IV. Responses from Authorities
● The local authorities and emergency services responded quickly and efficiently to the
disaster.

● The government has promised to provide all necessary resources to aid those affected.
● The Türkiye Disaster and Management Authority (AFAD) reported that over 110,000
rescue personnel and 5,500 vehicles were involved in the disaster response effort.
● Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared a three-month state of emergency in
the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake on February 7.
● The Turkish government and the global community are committed to assisting those
affected by the earthquake.
● Link for humanitarian and donation support: https://en.afad.gov.tr/earthquake-campaign 

►available Pdf FileEarthquake in Turkey