In the early morning of February 6, a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. Numerous aftershocks followed, the strongest nearly rivaling the power of the main quake, at magnitude 7.5. By evening, the death toll had climbed to more than 3,700 across both countries, according to Reuters, and was expected to continue to rise.
Most of Turkey sits on a small tectonic plate that is sandwiched between two slowly colliding behemoths: the vast Eurasian Plate to the north and the Arabian Plate to the south. As those two plates push together, Turkey is being squeezed out sideways, like a watermelon seed snapped between two fingers, says seismologist Susan Hough of the U.S. Geological Survey.
The entire country is hemmed in by strike-slip, or sideways-sliding, fault zones: the North Anatolian Fault that runs roughly parallel to the Black Sea, and the East Anatolian Fault, near the border with Syria. As a result, Turkey is highly seismically active. Even so, Monday’s quake, which occurred on the East Anatolian Fault, was the strongest to strike the region since 1939, when a magnitude 7.8 quake killed 30,000 people.
Science News talked with Hough, who is based in Pasadena, Calif., about the quake, its aftershocks and building codes. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
SN: You say on Twitter that this was a powerful quake for a strike-slip fault. Can you explain?
Hough: The world has seen bigger earthquakes. Subduction zones generate the biggest earthquakes, as much as magnitude 9 (SN: 1/13/21). But quakes close to magnitude 8 are not common on strike-slip faults. But because they’re on land and tend to be shallow, you can get severe … shaking close to the fault that’s moving.
2023-02-06 17:52:39
Post from www.sciencenews.org
Recent news reports have highlighted the devastating effects of the earthquake in Turkey, leaving many wondering about the dangers posed to people living in and around the area. The earthquake, measuring 6.7 in magnitude, struck the eastern province of Elazığ at 8:55pm local time on Friday, the 24th of January 2020.
The tremors of the quake spread across Turkey and were felt as far west as Istanbul and as far south as Antalya, more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) away. Tragically, at the time of writing, 41 people have died and more than 1,600 have been injured as a result of the earthquake, with hundreds more reported missing.
The destruction was greatest in the provincial capital city of Elazığ, where the majority of casualties and the most severe damage have occurred. Hundreds of buildings have collapsed, including some residential and commercial buildings, leaving thousands of people homeless. Rescue efforts continue, as rubble is still being cleared from the streets, and survivors are being treated for their injuries both in the city and in nearby hospitals.
As a result of the earthquake, there is an increased chance of aftershocks, as well as the threat of further destruction. It is important for people in the area to be aware of the dangers posed by an earthquake, and to brace for more tremors.
Turkey lies in a seismically active region of the world, and the country’s seismic hazard map shows that many regions, including Elazığ, are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and the destruction they can cause. To reduce the impact of possible future earthquakes, it is important to invest in building codes and seismic safeguards that can help limit the destruction and save lives.
The aftermath of the Elazığ earthquake is a reminder of the dangers posed by seismic activity. It is to be hoped that the tragedy of this natural disaster will encourage better seismic regulation and education in Turkey, so that future tragedies can be prevented and the safety of those living in seismically active regions improved.