1999 İzmit earthquake
The 1999 İzmit earthquake was an approximately 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck northwestern Turkey on August 17, 1999. It happened at around 3:01 am local time. The event lasted for 37 seconds, killing 15,135 people and leaving approximately half a million people homeless. The epicenter was in İzmit, which was heavily damaged and where most of the deaths and injuries occurred.
 Collapsed buildings in İzmit after the 1999 earthquake | |
  Istanbul Ankara  | |
| UTC time | 1999-08-17 00:01:38 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 1655218 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 17 August 1999 |
| Local time | 03:01 |
| Duration | 37 seconds |
| Magnitude | 7.6 Mw |
| Depth | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Epicenter | 40°49′N 29°59′E / 40.81°N 29.98°E |
| Fault | North Anatolian Fault |
| Type | Strike-slip |
| Areas affected | Turkey |
| Total damage | 3–8.5 billion USD |
| Max. intensity | IX (Violent) |
| Peak acceleration | .3–.4g |
| Tsunami | 2.52 m (8 ft 3 in) |
| Casualties | 17,118–17,127 dead 43,953–50,000 injured |
After the earthquake, international support came to the area including former United States President Bill Clinton who visited the people who had been affected from the quake in Adapazarı. The quake also caused damage and the deaths of hundreds of people in Istanbul.[1]
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad expressed shock over the tragedy. He told Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit that Malaysia would help the victims in any way possible.[2]
References
change- ↑ "İzmit earthquake of 1999 | Turkey". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ↑ "PM: We're ready to help quake victims in Turkey". Business Times. 1999-08-19.
