1999 Izmit, Turkey Earthquake
 Istanbul
Ankara
 |
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| Date | 17 August 1999 |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 00:01:40 UTC |
| Duration | 37 seconds |
| Magnitude | 7.6 Mw |
| Depth | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Epicenter | 40°49′N 29°59′E / 40.81°N 29.98°ECoordinates: 40°49′N 29°59′E / 40.81°N 29.98°E |
| Type | Strike-slip |
| Areas affected | Turkey |
| Total damage | 3–8.5 billion USD |
| Max. intensity | IX (Violent) |
| Peak acceleration | .3–.4g |
| Tsunami | 2.52 m (8 ft 3 in) |
| Casualties | 17,118–17,127 dead 43,953–50,000 injured |
The 1999 İzmit earthquake (also known as the Kocaeli, Gölcük, or Marmara earthquake) occurred on 17 August at 03:01:40 local time in northwestern Turkey. The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The event lasted for 37 seconds, killing around 17,000 people and left approximately half a million people homeless. The nearby city of İzmit was very badly damaged.
The earthquake occurred along the western portion of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). The Anatolian Plate, which consists primarily of Turkey, is being pushed west about 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1.0 in) a year, as it is squeezed between the Eurasian Plate to the north and the Arabian Plate to the south. Major earthquakes in Turkey result mainly from slip along the NAFZ or the East Anatolian Fault.
The Izmit earthquake had a rupture length of 150 kilometers (93 mi) extending from the city of Düzce all the way into the Sea of Marmara along the Gulf of İzmit. Offsets along the rupture were as large as 5.7 meters (18.7 ft).
Destruction in Istanbul was concentrated in the Avcılar district to the west of the city. Avcılar was built on relatively weak ground mainly composed of poorly consolidated Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, which makes this district vulnerable to any earthquake.
The earthquake was heavily felt in this industrialized and densely populated urban area of the country, including oil refineries, several automotive plants, and the Turkish navy headquarters and arsenal in Gölcük, increasing the severity of the loss of life and property. The earthquake also caused considerable damage in Istanbul, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) away from the earthquake's epicenter.
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