Human consequences
About 3 million people displaced in Turkey; in Syria, regions already ravaged by war.
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EarthquakeTurkey–Syria earthquakes
59,000Deaths
3MDisplaced / homeless
$104bnEstimated cost
- More than 53,000 deaths in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria.
- Turkish government estimate, about 9% of GDP.
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.7 strike nine hours apart, in the middle of a winter night, on the East Anatolian Fault. Tens of thousands of buildings collapse.
Consequences
Environmental consequences
A surface rupture of about 300 km; cities such as Antakya are largely razed.
Economic consequences
The costliest earthquake in Turkey’s history.
Political consequences
Hundreds of developers are prosecuted and amnesties for illegal construction are fiercely criticised; aid struggles to reach north-west Syria.
Further reading
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In the rankings : The costliest disasters in history No. 7
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