Turkey earthquake: Where did it hit and why was it so deadly?

The devastating earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023, had its epicenter in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş Province, located in southeastern Turkey, near the border with Syria. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.8 and was followed by another significant quake of 7.5 later that day.

Several factors contributed to the earthquake’s high death toll and extensive destruction:

1. Magnitude and Depth: The earthquake’s magnitude was significant, and its shallow depth meant that the shaking was felt more intensely at the surface.
2. Proximity to Population Centers: The epicenter was close to several densely populated cities, including Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, leading to widespread damage and loss of life.
3. Building Standards: Many buildings in the affected regions were not constructed to withstand such strong earthquakes, often due to inadequate enforcement of building codes. This resulted in buildings collapsing under the stress of the quake.
4. Aftershocks: The occurrence of powerful aftershocks compounded the initial destruction and posed ongoing risks to survivors and rescue efforts.
5. Humanitarian Challenges: The affected areas were already dealing with challenges related to poverty and infrastructure. The response to the disaster was complicated by ongoing political and economic issues in Turkey and Syria.

The disaster resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, extensive injuries, and widespread displacement, leading to one of the deadliest earthquakes in recent history.