Izmit (Kocaeli), Turkey Earthquake, August 17, 1999

On August 17, 1999, a magnitude Mw 7.4 earthquake occurred along the westernmost North Anatolian fault. The earthquake epicenter was 11 km southeast of the City of Izmit, in the sub-province of Kocaeli, a densely populated area in the industrial heartland of Turkey, and less than 80 km southeast of Istanbul. The earthquake damaged buildings across seven provinces for a distance of 250 km from Istanbul to Bolu. Casualties totaled 17,000 and additional thousands were missing and presumed dead. Injuries numbered 23,984 and an estimated 500,000 people were left homeless with 200,000 living on the streets. Damage estimates range from $10 billion to $40 billion. The fault crossed some of the most densely populated regions of Turkey. The affected population numbered 15 million people. The economics of the damaged region represented ten percent of the GNP of Turkey. This area of Turkey will continue to be active in a seismic sense, and appropriate steps need to be taken now to minimize the effects and fatalities of the next earthquake.