Turkey and Syria were hit by two strong earthquakes, one of magnitude 7.8 and the other of magnitude 7.5. The earthquakes caused widespread devastation and killed thousands of people. The earthquakes were a strike-slip type, which occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. The affected region is known as the East Anatolian fault zone, which is seismically active and has produced damaging earthquakes in the past. The earthquakes were especially devastating because they hit heavily populated areas with vulnerable buildings, including many older high-rise buildings, which could not absorb the shaking.
What Happened?
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria at a depth of 11 miles (18 kilometers), followed by at least 13 significant aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 5 within the first 11 hours. Another related strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit Turkey nine hours after the initial earthquake.
What type of quake was this?
According to researchers, the earthquake was a strike-slip quake resulting from the horizontal sliding of two tectonic plates. The Earth consists of different pieces meeting at fault lines, where the plates usually grind against each other slowly until enough tension builds up, resulting in a sudden, large release of energy. In this case, one plate moved west while the other moved east, jerking past each other to create the quake. As time passes, aftershocks are expected to decrease in frequency.
Are Earthquakes common in this area?
The earthquake happened in an area known as the East Anatolian fault zone, which has a history of producing destructive earthquakes. Turkey is known for being a seismically active country, and has experienced deadly quakes in the past, including a magnitude 6.7 quake in January 2020 and a 7.4 magnitude quake in 1999 that killed around 18,000 people near Istanbul.
Why was Earthquake so devastating ?
The earthquake was strong for an on-land quake and hit heavily populated areas near Gaziantep in Turkey. The affected regions had many older high-rise buildings and vulnerable structures, including those in war-torn Syria. Reports indicate that thousands of buildings collapsed in the aftermath, with many unable to withstand the shaking. Rescue efforts have been difficult due to cold temperatures and traffic congestion from people leaving affected areas. Margarita Segou, a seismologist, noted that strong earthquakes typically occur underwater, and Kishor Jaiswal, a structural engineer, suggested that this area’s vulnerability was due to older buildings and rapid construction.
