Izmet, Turkey
Earthquake
By Molly Sumpter
Outline
►tectonic setting of Turkey,
North Anatolian Fault
►August 17, 1999 event
►outcomes, what was
learned from this quake
Tectonic Setting
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►
►
►
Convergence between the African and Eurasian plates
 results in the westward motion of the Turkey plate on which most of the
land area of Turkey lies.
The plate is bounded to the north by the 1200-km-long North Anatolian Fault,
and to the south by the Southern Anatolian fault which slip respectively in a
right-lateral and left-lateral sense.
The Black Sea margin of Turkey lies on the EuroAsian Plate
 strike-slip earthquakes with little or no vertical slip.
The western margin of Turkey is a region of convergence with the Aegean Sea
floor
 thrust-type earthquakes with a substantial vertical slip component.
North Anatolian Fault
•Scientists fear segments could act as
dominos if enough stress is transferred
through segments
•The North Anatolian fault is very
similar to San Andreas fault in
California
•similar slip rates
•total length
•and straightness relative to their
poles of rotation
August 17, 1999
► 3:00 am
► Lasted 45 seconds
► 7.4 magnitude
► Epicenter was 7 miles east of
Izmit
► 10.5 miles below ground
► Felt in Africa
► Death toll between 30-40,000
WHAT
WENT
WRONG?
Lessons Learned
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Loss of life and building collapse was avoidable.
 new buildings performed very poorly because they were not
properly designed, not properly constructed, or located on
ground that failed from shaking or faulting.
Severe industrial losses also were avoidable.
 The major damage at these facilities could have been avoided with
better earthquake resistant structural design, systems design, and
planning.
Limited earthquake insurance availability.
 According to the World Bank, only 15% of the residences in the
Istanbul urban area are insured for earthquake
Ground faulting and rupture losses from poor land use
planning.
 Many structures build on or near a well-known fault
Sources
► http://cires.colorado.edu/~bilham/Izmit_EE
FIT_REPORT.htm
► http://www.absconsulting.com/resources/Ca
tastrophe_Reports/Izmit-Turkey-1999.pdf