1992 Erzincan earthquake

Summary

On 13 March 1992, a moment magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck eastern Turkey. It had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent) and occurred along the North Anatolian Fault. At least 498 people died, roughly 2,000 were injured, and an unknown number of people went missing. Total financial losses were between $13.5 million and $750 million (US Dollars).[1]

1992 Erzincan earthquake
1992 Erzincan earthquake is located in Turkey
1992 Erzincan earthquake
UTC time1992-03-13 17:18:39
ISC event299638
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date13 March 1992
Local time8:18:39 pm
Magnitude6.8–6.9 Ms[1][2]
6.7 Mw[3]
6.2 mb[1]
Depth20 km (12 mi)[3]
Epicenter39°43′N 39°36′E / 39.71°N 39.6°E / 39.71; 39.6[3]
FaultNorth Anatolian Fault
TypeStrike-slip[4]
Total damage$13.5 million[4]
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)[5]
Peak acceleration0.5 g[6]
Casualties498–652 dead[4]
2,000 injured[4]

Geology edit

 
Map of the Anatolian Plate, featuring the North Anatolian Fault.

Most of Turkey lies on the Anatolian Plate. Deformation from is accommodated through three main faults: the eastern portion of the Hellenic Trench accommodates convergence between the Aegean Sea Plate and the Anatolian Plate in the south, the North Anatolian Fault in the north, along which this earthquake occurred, accommodates the deformation between the Anatolian Plate and the Eurasian Plate which forces the Anatolian west, and the East Anatolian Fault in the east accommodates the same deformation. The Erzincan basin lies on the intersection of this fault on its northern side.

Earthquake edit

At 6.7 on the moment magnitude scale, the earthquake was designated as "strong". The maximum Modified Mercalli intensity was evaluated at IX (Violent) and peak ground acceleration recorded at 0.5 g.[7][8] The focal mechanism indicated strike slip faulting, and rupture is estimated to be 30 km (19 mi) long with a maximum slip of 95 cm (37 in).[9] More than 3,000 aftershocks rocked the area afterwards.[10]

Aftermath edit

The earthquake left at least 498 killed, 2,000 injured, collapsed 150 buildings and damaged over 8,000 homes.[1][6] The provision of housing following the earthquake is now listed by the Chamber of Civil Engineers in Turkey as one of Fifty civil engineering feats in Turkey. A temporary group of 10 seismographs were set up in the area to monitor aftershocks.[2]

Sports edit

Erzincanspor, the local football team, withdrew from the 1991-92 3. Lig on the 24th week after the earthquake.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Event: ERZINCAN, TURKEY". ngdc.noaa.gov.
  2. ^ a b Grosser, H.; Baumbach, M.; Berckhemer, H.; Baier, B.; Karahan, A.; Schelle, H.; Krüger, F.; Paulat, A.; Michel, G.; Demirtas, R.; Gencoglu, S.; Yilmaz, R. (1998). "The Erzincan (Turkey) Earthquake (Ms 6.8) of March 13, 1992 and its Aftershock Sequence". Pure and Applied Geophysics. 152 (3): 465–505. Bibcode:1998PApGe.152..465G. doi:10.1007/s000240050163. S2CID 129640525.
  3. ^ a b c ISC (2015), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 2.0, International Seismological Centre
  4. ^ a b c d USGS (4 September 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey
  5. ^ USGS (6 February 2023). "PAGER" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b Çelebi, Mehmet (1992). "Highlights of the 13 March 1992 Erzincan (Turkey) earthquake". USGS: 397–410. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. ^ Avşar, Ümİt; Türkoğlu, Erşan; Unsworth, Martyn; Çağlar, İlyas; Kaypak, Bülent (2013). "Geophysical Images of the North Anatolian Fault Zone in the Erzincan Basin, Eastern Turkey, and their Tectonic Implications" (PDF). Pure and Applied Geophysics. 170 (3): 409–431. Bibcode:2013PApGe.170..409A. doi:10.1007/s00024-012-0521-5. S2CID 35267067.
  8. ^ USGS. "M 6.7 - 8 km W of Cimin, Turkey". United States Geological Survey.
  9. ^ Barka, A.; Eyidoǧan, H. (1993). "The Erzincan earthquake of 13 March 1992 in Eastern Turkey". Terra Nova. 5 (2): 190–194. Bibcode:1993TeNov...5..190B. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3121.1993.tb00245.x. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Today in Earthquake History: March 13". 18 December 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Beşiktaş, TFF'ye rest çekiyor... Kulüpler ortadan bölündü, karar değişir mi?". 10Haber (in Turkish). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

Further reading edit

  • Fuenzalida, H.; Dorbath, L.; Cisternas, A.; Eyidogan, H.; Barka, A.; Rivera, L.; Haessler, H.; Philip, H.; Lyberis, N. (1997), "Mechanism of the 1992 Erzincan earthquake and its aftershocks, tectonics of the Erzincan Basin and decoupling on the North Anatolian Fault", Geophysical Journal International, 129 (1): 1–28, Bibcode:1997GeoJI.129....1F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.1997.tb00935.x
  • Williams, M.S. & Pomonis, A. & Booth, E.D. & Vaciago, G. & Ring, S. (1992). The Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake of March 1992: A Filed Report by EEFIT.

External links edit

  • The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.