Türkiye-Syria earthquakes 2023

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Temporary tents raised for the 2023 earthquake survivors in Turkiye
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Introduction

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.

Related links
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Hazards
Earthquake
Country and region
Syrian Arab Republic
Türkiye

Knowledge base

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Documents and publications

Evaluation of the seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings in the light of lessons learned from the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye earthquake sequences

This study initially considers the seismicity of the Türkiye region where the earthquakes that occurred on 6 February 2023 took place, as well as the seismic characteristics of these earthquakes.
Cover
Documents and publications

The impact of the 2023 earthquakes on Türkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections

This case study examines the dynamics of holding elections in the aftermath of disasters. It provides information on the legal and institutional background of elections in Türkiye and discusses the matters of organizing elections in the post-earthquake
Cover
Documents and publications

Lessons learned from four recent Turkish earthquakes: Sivrice-Elazığ, Aegean Sea, and Dual Kahramanmaraş

This study investigates the impact of four recent earthquakes, that occurred between 2020 and 2023, on reinforced concrete (RC) buildings.
Turkish schoolgirls in uniform walking in a street
Update

Türkiye earthquakes one year on: the devastation has exposed deep societal scars and women are bearing the brunt

One year after the devastating earthquake in Turkey, the region’s economy and society remain shaken. The devastation has exposed deep societal scars, and the task of rebuilding is still immense.
Conversation Media Group, the
https://www.connectingbusiness.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/Tu%CC%88rkiye%20Earthquakes%20FINAL%20LIGHT.pdf
Documents and publications

Türkiye earthquakes 2023: Lessons learned on business engagement in the humanitarian response

Researchers explore the role of businesses in the Turkish context, including successes and challenges in coordinating between the private sector and humanitarian organizations, for improving private sector collaboration in future humanitarian responses.
Intensive day and night search and rescue in Kahramanmaraş, the epicentre of the earthquake
Statements and messages

One-year anniversary of 6 February earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria

As recovery and reconstruction efforts continue, the emphasis on building back better and leaving no one behind is imperative to enhance the disaster resilience of infrastructure, individuals, and communities in the affected region.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Update

After the earthquakes: Experts discuss building codes in Türkiye and the U.S.

Experts reflect on building collapses in the wake of the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes and the importance of earthquake-resilient design in both the U.S. and Türkiye.
Temblor
Research briefs

Analyses of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake from February 2023

This article analyses the Kahramanmaraş earthquake from February 2023 in Turkey.
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH
Leaning buildings after the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes
Blog
Jonathan T.M. Reckford Dr. Kit Miyamoto

Tragic lessons from Morocco and Türkiye: Earthquake resilience needs a stronger foundation

Currently, governments around the world spend 90% of their disaster budgets on emergency relief, but only 4% on prevention and preparedness. That equation equals disaster.
Cover
Documents and publications

Syria economic monitor, summer 2023: The economic aftershocks of large earthquakes

Using novel data sources, this Syria economic monitor analyzes what happens to a conflict-affected economy in the months following a large disaster. Twelve years into a devastating civil war, a one-in-two-century earthquake devastated northwestern Syria.

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