1999day.year
The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes northwestern Turkey near İzmit, killing over 17,000 and injuring tens of thousands.
A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the region around İzmit, Turkey, on August 17, 1999, reaching a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The quake flattened towns, collapsed buildings, and triggered widespread fires, leaving between 17,118 and 17,127 people dead. An estimated 43,953 to 50,000 survivors were injured, many left homeless by the destruction of critical infrastructure. The disaster prompted a massive international relief effort, with search and rescue teams and aid supplies arriving from around the world. The Turkish government revised its seismic building codes and emergency response protocols in the quake’s aftermath. Today, the İzmit earthquake remains a stark reminder of the region’s seismic vulnerability.
1999
İzmit earthquake
Turkey
Mercalli intensity