Deadly Quake Kills Dozens in Turkey

UPDATE: Turkey Quake Death Toll Reaches 41: Local Sources

Strong Earthquake Measuring 6.0Mw Strikes Eastern Turkey

The quake struck at a depth of about 2 km with the epicenter located at 38.82°N, 40.50°E, on March 8, 2010 at 02:32:34UTC European Mediterranean Seismological Center reported.

The mainshock was followed by at least a dozen aftershocks, as of posting, the largest of which measured 4.4Mw.

Up to several dozen people have been killed, as of posting.  The victims were from the small village of Okcular, where dozens of houses collapse in the earthquake various sources reported a local official as saying.

• Magnitude: 5.9 [Max Mag Estimated at 6.0Mw by Fire-Earth]
• Region: EASTERN TURKEY
• Date time: 2010-03-08 at 02:32:33.5 UTC
• Location: 38.82 N ; 40.05 E
• Depth: 2 km
• Distances:
  • 74 km E Elazig (pop 298,004 ; local time 04:32 2010-03-08)
  • 16 km S Karakoçan (pop 29,735 ; local time 04:32 2010-03-08)
  • 105 km (65 miles) SSE of Erzincan
  • 625 km (390 miles) E of ANKARA (Capital of Turkish Capital)

10-degree Map Centered at 40°N,40°E

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Image Edited and Enhanced by FEWW.

Seismic Hazard Map of Turkey

Other Maps

• Shakemap of Eastern Turkey (USGS)
• Estimated Population Exposed (.PDF)
  

Tectonic Summary

The tectonic map of Turkey includes the North Anatolian fault, East Anatolian fault, and Hellenic and Florence trenches. The westward movement of the Anatolian block results from (1) differences in rates of motion between the Arabian and African plates, (2) different directions of motion between the Anatolian block and Eurasian plate to the north, and (3) subduction of the African plate beneath the Anatolian block at the Hellenic and Florence trenches. The Arabian plate is moving to the north faster than the African plate, both relative to a stable Eurasian plate. The result is a westward moving wedge incorporating most of Turkey. (Source: USGS)

Seismicity Map of Turkey

Seismicity Map of Turkey shows the location of a M6.4 earthquake which struck on May 1, 2003, close to the epicenter of today’s earthquake.

Seismic Hazard Setting

Tectonic Map of Turkey


Historic Earthquakes and Fatalities (Turkey)

• 1668 08 17 – Anatolia, Turkey – M 8.0 Fatalities 8,000
• 1899 09 20 – Menderes Valley, Turkey – M 6.9 Fatalities 1,100
• 1901 12 18 – Ayvalik, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) – M 5.9
• 1903 04 28 – Turkey – M 7.0 Fatalities 3,500
• 1903 05 28 – Gole, Turkey (Ottomon Empire) – M 5.8 Fatalities 1,000
• 1912 08 09 – Murefte, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) – M 7.8 Fatalities 2,800
• 1914 10 03 – Burdur, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) – M 7.0 Fatalities 4,000
• 1939 12 26 – Erzincan, Turkey – M 7.8 Fatalities 32,700
• 1942 11 26 – Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 4,000
• 1942 12 20 – Erbaa, Turkey – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,100
• 1943 11 26 – Ladik, Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 4,000
• 1944 02 01 – Gerede, Turkey – M 7.4 Fatalities 2,790
• 1946 05 31 – Ustukran, Turkey – M 5.9 Fatalities 1,300
• 1949 08 17 – Erzurum, Turkey – M 6.8 Fatalities 320
• 1951 08 13 – Kursunlu, Turkey – M 6.7 Fatalities 50
• 1953 03 18 – Yenice-Gonen, Turkey – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,073
• 1957 04 25 – Fethiye, Turkey – M 7.1 Fatalities 15
• 1957 05 26 – Bolu Province, Turkey – M 7.1 Fatalities 66
• 1964 10 06 – Western Turkey – M 7.0 Fatalities 36
• 1965 06 13 – Denizli, Turkey – M 5.4 Fatalities 2
• 1966 08 19 – Varto, Turkey – M 6.8 Fatalities 2,529
• 1967 07 22 – Mudurnu Valley, Turkey – M 7.3 Fatalities 173
• 1968 09 03 – Bartin, Turkey – M 6.6 Fatalities 24
• 1969 03 28 – Alasehir, Turkey – M 6.4 Fatalities 11
• 1970 03 28 – Gediz, Turkey – M 6.9 Fatalities 1,086
• 1971 05 12 – Western Turkey – M 6.3
• 1971 05 22 – Eastern Turkey – M 6.9 Fatalities 1,000
• 1975 09 06 – Turkey – M 6.7 Fatalities 2,000
• 1983 10 30 – Turkey – M 6.9 Fatalities 1,342
• 1999 08 17 – Izmit, Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 17,118
• 1999 11 12 – Duzce, Turkey – M 7.2 Fatalities 894
• 2002 02 03 – Turkey – M 6.5 Fatalities 44
• 2003 01 27 – Turkey – M 6.1
• 2003 05 01 – Eastern Turkey – M 6.4 Fatalities 177
• 2004 07 01 – Eastern Turkey – M 5.1 Fatalities 18

Related Links:

• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• Arabia Shakes
• Volcanic Explosions Could Split More Than Africa

Other Links:

• Recent Earthquakes in Turkey
• Real-time Earthquake data from Turkey