Shallow Quake Strikes Western Turkey

M5.9 earthquake shook western Turkey, killing 2, injuring 30 and damaging buildings

The quake  was centered in the town of Simav (39.14°N, 29.16°E) and struck at a depth of about 6 km at 20:15UTC on May 19,2011.

One person reportedly died in Simav after jumping out of window in panic, and the second fatality occurred as a result of a heart attack. Several dozen people were injured from broken glass, or jumping off balconies, but there was no report of widespread damage, AP said.

“Most of the town of Simav was without electricity and telephone lines were down, reports said. At least one empty building collapsed in Simav and some other old buildings were also slightly damaged, said the Anatolia news agency.”

A politician who was on the fifth floor of an apartment building in Simav when the quake struck said: “It was so strong that we could not even move in the first few seconds. [Too afraid to return to their homes] people are waiting in their cars now.”

Distances [USGS]

• 80 km (50 miles) WSW (247°) from Kutahya, Turkey
• 118 km (73 miles) ESE (117°) from Balikesir, Turkey
• 118 km (74 miles) S (180°) from Bursa, Turkey
• 334 km (208 miles) WSW (256°) from ANKARA, Turkey

JAPAN QUAKE UPDATE

Data collected by underwater geodetic equipment placed on the seabed off the coast of Japan indicate that the March 11 Mega Quake moved the ocean floor laterally by about 20m (65ft), and caused also an upwards movement of 3m (10ft), a report said.

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Turkey Quake Update – Mar 9

Deadly Earthquake Toll Revised Down to 51

The death toll from the strong M6.0 quake that struck eastern  Turkey Monday is lowered to 51, local government officials were quoted as saying. However, the exact numbers of  the missing and injured are unclear.

A Turkish newspaper quoting local authorities, put the number of injured at less than 40, adding that there were no more bodies to be recovered.

Turkey’s Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute at Bogazici University reported 140 aftershocks, as of posting, most of which were smaller than a magnitude 3.0 shock.

A father carries his dead child wrapped in a blanket. Source: Turkeiye Newspaper. Image may be subject to copyright.

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:

• Deadly Quake Kills Dozens in Turkey
• Turkey Deadly Quake Update
• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links
• Arabia Shakes
• Volcanic Explosions Could Split More Than Africa

Maps and Other Links:

• Shakemap of Eastern Turkey (USGS)
• Estimated Population Exposed (.PDF)
• Recent Earthquakes in Turkey
• Real-time Earthquake data from Turkey