1939 Turkey Earthquake
Erzincan, Turkey — December 27, 1939
The 1939 Erzincan earthquake is the largest and deadliest earthquake in Turkish history. It struck at night in winter, killing nearly 33,000 people across eastern Anatolia. The earthquake began the westward progression of seismicity along the North Anatolian Fault that would continue for the next 60 years.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M7.8
Date
Dec 27, 1939
Depth
15 km
Deaths
32,962
Latitude
39.770°
Longitude
38.370°
Tsunami
No
Region
Turkey
Tectonic Cause
Right-lateral strike-slip rupture on the North Anatolian Fault, the first in a sequence of major NAF earthquakes that progressed steadily westward from 1939 to 1999.
Aftermath in Pictures
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — open licenses (CC / Public Domain)
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under open licenses. Attribution required where specified. Click any image to enlarge.
Sources & Further Reading
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