M7.6

1999 Turkey Earthquake

İzmit (Kocaeli), Turkey — August 17, 1999

The 1999 İzmit earthquake devastated the industrial heartland of Turkey, killing over 17,000 people. The earthquake triggered comprehensive reform of Turkey's building codes and earthquake preparedness systems. It also sparked scientific interest in predicting a future major earthquake near Istanbul.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M7.6

Date

Aug 17, 1999

Depth

17 km

Deaths

17,118

Latitude

40.748°

Longitude

29.864°

Tsunami

No

Region

Turkey

Tectonic Cause

Right-lateral strike-slip rupture of 145 km on the western North Anatolian Fault. The earthquake continued the westward progression of NAF seismicity that began in 1939.

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