*This report is a product of the DEEP Remote Analysis Team comprising analysts and other professionals from Data Friendly Space (DFS). DFS wants to acknowledge the significant contributions of its staff to the analytical process, as well as their roles in the publication and finalisation of this report. The DEEP Remote Analysis Team has worked to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the findings presented herein. DFS appreciates the collaborative effort in bringing forth this comprehensive report, reflecting the combined expertise of all teams involved.
Two of the strongest earthquakes in the region in more than 100 years, of 7.8 and 7.7 magnitude, occurred on Monday 6 February in southeastern Türkiye at about 4:15 am and 1:30 pm local time.
One of the strongest earthquakes in the region in more than 100 years, of 7.8 magnitude, occurred on Monday 6 February in southeastern Türkiye at about 4:15 am local time (1:15 GMT), centered about 70 kilometers from Gaziantep, in Şekeroba (ADAM WFP 06/02/2023). A strong 6.7 aftershock was felt in Türkoğlu, a few kilometers north from the first earthquake, about 10 minutes later (ADAM WFP 06/02/2023). More than 2.65 million people were living in the 50 kilometers radius of the epicenter (ADAM WFP 06/02/2023). Up to 70,000 people were exposed to violent shaking, according to USGS (USGS 06/02/2023). Another 7.7 earthquake occurred 100 kilometers north of the first one, in Ekinözü, with an aftershock of magnitude 6, at 1:30 pm local time (ADAM WFP 06/02/2023).
The earthquakes have been felt throughout the region, in neighboring countries, especially Syrian border regions with Türkiye and Iraq (Anadolu Agency 06/02/2023). They affected anarea of around 400 kilometers, including the main cities of Gaziantep, Adana, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Kilis, Osmaniye, Diyarbakir, Adiyaman and Sanliurfa in Türkiye and Aleppo, Idlib, Homs and Hama in Syria.
A series of earthquakes followed the initial tremor, at least 66 before 9 am local time according to Türkiye disaster management agency AFAD (The Guardian 06/02/2023), with at least 18 aftershocks with a magnitude over 4 and seven above 5 recorded (CNN 06/02/2023).
Situated on or near several fault lines, Turkey is one of the world's most active earthquake zones. Düzce was one of the regions hit by the last worst earthquake, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in 1999, which killed more than 17,000 people (The Guardian 06/02/2023).
Those numbers are expected to rise significantly, as many buildings collapsed with large numbers of people buried under the rubble.
