Türkiye-Syria earthquakes 2023

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Temporary tents raised for the 2023 earthquake survivors in Turkiye
Midary/Shutterstock

On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes struck southern and central Türkiye, and northern and western Syria. The first had a magnitude of Mw 7.8 and the second of Mw 7.7.

In Türkiye, there were at least 31,974 deaths (as of 14 February 2023) and 80,278 injured across the ten most affected provinces. At least 13.5 million people and 4 million buildings have been affected. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change conducted damage inspections for 763,000 buildings; at least 41,791 buildings in 10 Turkish provinces were heavily damaged or destroyed, leaving about 150,000 people homeless.

The economic losses are likely to surpass $20bn, according to Verisk (FT, 14 February 2023).

In Syria, at least 5,714 people were killed, and over 14,500 were injured (as of 13 February 2023). It was estimated that up to 5.37 million people across Syria might have been made homeless, while a total of 10.9 million people, nearly half of the country's population, were affected.

Cover
2023
The objective of the assessment is to develop a model-based estimate of the direct physical damages to residential buildings (houses) and non-residential buildings caused by the event, and to evaluate the spatial distribution of damages.
World Bank, the
Cover
2023
This report provides an early and preliminary estimate of the direct damage costs caused by these earthquakes, which in turn will inform the response of the World Bank Group and its partners and support planning for recovery and reconstruction.
World Bank, the
Cover
2023
This is an editorial which explores the key lessons from the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes in relation to building design and construction.
Fire (MDPI)
Structural and civil engineers from the UK have travelled to Turkey to help to investigate the damage caused by last month's powerful earthquake.
British Broadcasting Corporation
Three Syrian people sitting on the rubble in Aleppo after the earthquakes struck in 2023.
After a pair of devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, the number of confirmed deaths continues to rise, surpassing 50,000 as of Feb. 24.
Conversation Media Group, the
Equipment and expert aid are urgently needed for 4.7 million people in the country’s neglected northwest.
Scientific Data (Nature)
Azerbaijani soldiers take part in search and rescue efforts after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit Kahramanmaras, Turkiye on February 10, 2023.
On Feb. 6, 2023, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck at 4:17 a.m. local time near Pazarcık City in south-central Türkiye. This earthquake was followed by a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5 at 1:24 p.m. with the epicenter in Elbistan City.
Temblor
Estimating the cost of disasters is a tricky business and calculations can vary widely. Following the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, we examine some of the main methods used.
Deutsche Welle
This month’s earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria have been called a “once-in-a-generation” disaster – one so devastating that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said it wasn’t possible to be prepared for them. Is that really true?
The New Humanitarian
On 6 February, two major earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, bringing widespread destruction to both countries. Scientists had issued warnings, but the scale of damage caused was never anticipated and had not been prepared for.
Overseas Development Institute