Timeline of earthquakes in Turkey over past several decades
MEE takes a look at the history of earthquakes in Turkey between 1999 and 2023.
1999
In August 1999, a powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the densely populated region of Marmara, located south of Istanbul, for 45 seconds. At least 17,000 were killed, while around 40,000 people were injured. The earthquake was the deadliest in Turkey's history since 1939, and also triggered a tsunami in the Sea of Marmara.
Then, in November another magnitude major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit the town of Duzce, just 100 km (62 mi) from the quake in Marmara, causing at least 845 deaths.
2003
In May 2003, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit the province of Bingol, killing at least 167 people, including 83 children.
2010
In March 2010, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake killed at least 42 people in the eastern province of Elazig, and injured 74 people.
2011
Two earthquakes hit the eastern Turkish city of Van near the end of 2011. The first one, with a magnitude of 7.2, struck on 23 October and the second one, which was a magnitude of 5.6, hit on 9 November.In total, the earthquakes claimed 644 lives and led to more than 4,000 injuries.
2017
In June 2017, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Aegean coast off of western Turkey, killing two people and injuring 480.
The epicentre was just six miles south of the Turkish resort of Bodrum and 10 miles from Kos. It struck at the start of the peak tourist season for both Kos and Bodrum.
2020
In January 2020, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Elazig in the eastern Anatolian region of Turkey, killing at least 41 people and injuring more than 1,000. The quake was also felt in the neighbouring countries of Syria, Georgia and Armenia.
In October that year, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake levelled buildings in eastern Greece and western Turkey on 30 October, killing at least 117 people and injuring nearly 800. Much of the damage in Turkey occurred in and around the Aegean resort city of Izmir.
2022
In April 2022, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 hit the town of Puturge in the eastern province of Malatya. No deaths or injuries were reported.
