The number of deaths by earthquake in Syria and Turkey it reached 37,000 people and thousands more victims are left homeless. In early February, on February 6, a deadly earthquake rocked both countries with news that could put the death toll to 100,000.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was caused by a 100 km long fracture in the tectonic plates located in Arabia and Anatolia. At 4:15 a.m. local time, the earthquake hit southern Turkey. Buildings and other structures offered no resistance and immediately fell to pieces, leaving thousands of people under the rubble.
In addition to the main quake, other small earthquakes occurred after the great destruction, and that was the sign of the total destruction of the two countries. This is the deadliest event since 2011, when the Tohoku earthquake hit Japan, followed by a tsunami that could kill 20,000 people.
The death toll recorded in Turkey makes the earthquake the thirdstrongest in the country’s history. In 1999 the Izmit earthquake was able to kill 17,000 people and the worst in history was the Erzincan in 1939 with 33,000 recorded deaths.
Earthquakes in Syria and Turkey: why were they so catastrophic?
Observing these events can move humanity. Many wonder how an earthquake can cause so much destruction in two countries in this way. Certainly there are explanations: plate tectonics, uneven construction without earthquakeproof buildings and soft ground could be responsible for the chaos.
Northwest Syria and southeast Turkey lie in the vicinity of three huge tectonic plates: the Arabian, African and Anatolian plates. When colliding, the plates can cause vibrations. Experts point out that the earthquake happened through the plates of Anatolia and Arabia. After decades of being pulled apart, the stress brought the two panels together at the breaking point, which could create the stress. There are scholars who claim that this tension may have increased over the centuries.
The buildings of the countries began to shake from the earthquake and the sedimentary, soft soils increased the instability and favored the collapse of the buildings.
Another issue of great concern was the time of the earthquake, when people slept in their homes and the chance of leaving the buildings was minimal. Many of these structures were not even earthquake proof.
In a statement, United States Geological Survey (ESGS) scientist David Wald cited one of the reasons for the chaos:
“It is difficult to watch this tragedy unfold, especially as we have long known that the buildings in the area are not designed to withstand earthquakes. An earthquake of this magnitude can cause damage anywhere in the world, but many structures in this region are particularly vulnerable.”