1. Earthquake in Turkey
2. What Causes Earthquake In Turkey?
On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck western Turkey near the town of Erzincan. The magnitude of the quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale and had a maximum intensity of IX on the Mercalli Intensity scale. This was one of the most damaging earthquakes to hit Turkey in decades, resulting in more than 18 deaths and hundreds injured as well as extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure, and service facilities across western Turkey.
.jpeg)
Furthermore, over 1 million people were affected and left homeless due to structural collapses and landslides triggered by the earthquake. Many relief efforts have been put into place by international governmental agencies such as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other aid organizations like Red Cross Society in order to provide necessary food, water, medical assistance and shelter for those affected.
Moreover, an initial estimate reveals that rebuilding will cost billions of dollars long-term due to extreme destruction caused by tremors from this disaster.
What Causes Earthquake In Turkey?
Earthquakes are one of the most powerful natural phenomena on the planet, capable of causing widespread destruction and loss of life in only a matter of seconds. For centuries, humans have been trying to understand and predict earthquakes, so they can be prepared and avoid disasters. Turkey is a seismically active area and is particularly prone to earthquakes due to its location between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. In this essay, the causes of earthquakes in Turkey will be discussed.
The physical causes of earthquakes in Turkey are related to the tectonic structure of the region. Turkey is located in a highly seismically active area, known as the Alpine-Himalaya belt, and is situated between the two major Eurasian plates. This means that Turkey is located along a major fault line, known as the North Anatolian Fault Zone, which is where the two plates collide, move past each other, and rub against each other. As the plates overlap and collide with each other, the pressure builds until it is released in the form of an earthquake.
 |
| Alpine-Himalaya belt |
Turkey is also located near the northern edge of the African plate, which has its own fault lines. This means that earthquakes in Turkey can also be caused when the African plate shifts or when it collides with the Eurasian plate. In addition to these direct causes of earthquakes, Turkey also suffers from other activities that can indirectly cause earthquakes. For example, underground drilling has been identified as a contributing factor to earthquakes in Turkey, as it changes the composition and strength of the rock below the surface, making it more unstable.
Human activities can also indirectly cause earthquakes in Turkey. The most prominent example of this is the construction of large dams and reservoirs, which have been identified as potential sources of seismic activity. The reason for this is that when a large body of water is added to the geological system, it causes a great deal of stress on the surrounding area, which can be released in the form of an earthquake.
Finally, Turkey’s geologic past can also lead to future earthquakes. Turkey has experienced massive earthquakes in the past, and these quakes have left behind a complex network of faults and seismically active areas that can be triggered by changes in the environment. For example, when precipitation levels suddenly increase or decrease, large amounts of stress can be placed on the fault lines, resulting in an earthquake.
Earthquakes in Turkey are caused by a combination of physical and human-influenced factors, such as the tectonic structure of the region, underground drilling, large dams and reservoirs, and the geologic history of the region. Each of these factors contributes to the seismic activity in the region, and when combined with the region’s high level of seismicity, can lead to destructive earthquakes.