The main view panel to the right shows the shake map for the magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Although the tectonic fractures occurred in Turkey, the shake map clearly shows that the northern part of Syria also experienced major tectonic upheaval.
An unfortunately all too typical example of a collapsed building in the town of Hatay, Turkey.
The toll in human life was extreme, with upwards of 47,000 believed to have been killed. Over 6,000 of those deaths occurred in northern Syria.
A major factor in the high death toll was the shoddy construction of many buildings. A large number of buildings collapsed, with many simply “pancaking” in on themselves. It is estimated that over 300,000 building collapsed or were severely damaged as a result of the earthquakes.
Did You Know?
Almost a Record-Setter
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that occurred on February 6,, 2023 was the strongest earthquake to hit Turkey since a similar magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in 1939. The 2023 and the 1939 earthquakes are only exceeded in size by a magnitude 8 earthquake that occurred in Turkey in 1668.