Earthquake in Turkey
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The epicenter was located 37 km (23 mi) west-northwest of Gaziantep. The earthquake had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XII (Extreme) around the epicenter and in Antakya.
The earthquake sequence represents the strongest earthquakes in Turkey during the past 80 years and caused an extensive loss of life and property. It left thousands of people homeless during the bitter winter cold3. Tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed or deemed unsafe in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Here are some key facts about the 2023 Turkey earthquake:
- Date: February 6, 2023
Magnitude: 7.8
Location: Southern and central Turkey, northern and western Syria
Epicenter: 37 km (23 mi) west-northwest of Gaziantep
Maximum Mercalli Intensity: XII (Extreme)
Despite Earling short-term seismic risk models being able to accurately detect the risk of earthquakes in high-risk regions like California and Nevada, the latest version of these models was not tested in Turkey, taking into account its specific geological conditions. However, the 7.8 earthquake in Turkey provided an opportunity to test these models, and it was found that the latest version of the models is capable of detecting high-risk seismic time-windows in the eastern part of Turkey.