The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that caused widespread damage in Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 was the highest magnitude quake to hit the region after a 7.8 magnitude quake that killed around 32,700 people in 1939. The chart shows all earthquakes of magnitude 5 and above in and around 50 kilometre region of present-day Turkey and Syria.
Strongest earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed many and caused widespread damage in Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 was the highest magnitude quake to hit the region since a 7.8 magnitude quake that killed around 32,700 people in 1939. The chart shows all earthquakes of magnitude 5 and above in and around 50 km region of present-day Turkey and Syria.
Magnitude 8
1939
7.8 magnitude
Feb. 6, 2023
7.8 magnitude
1944
7.6 magnitude
1999
7.6 magnitude
1943
7.5 magnitude
7
6
5
1900
1925
1950
1975
2000
2023
Note: Magnitude measures the size of the seismic waves generated by an earthquake and not the strength. The scale is logarithmic, meaning a whole number increase in magnitude represents a 10-fold jump in the size of the earthquake.
Sources: United States Geological Survey
Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa | Reuters, Feb. 6, 2023
Strongest earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed many and caused widespread damage in Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 was the highest magnitude quake to hit the region since a 7.8 magnitude quake that killed around 32,700 people in 1939. The chart shows all earthquakes of magnitude 5 and above in and around 50 km region of present-day Turkey and Syria.
Magnitude 8
1939 (Erzincan, Turkey)
7.8 magnitude
Feb. 6, 2023 (Kahramanmaras, Turkey)
7.8 magnitude
1944 (Bolu–Gerede, Turkey)
7.6 magnitude
1999 (Izmit, Turkey)
7.6 magnitude
1943 (Ladik-Vezirkopru, Turkey)
7.5 magnitude
7
6
5
1900
1925
1950
1975
2000
2023
Note: Magnitude measures the size of the seismic waves generated by an earthquake and not the strength. The scale is logarithmic, meaning a whole number increase in magnitude represents a 10-fold jump in the size of the earthquake.
Sources: United States Geological Survey
Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa | Reuters, Feb. 6, 2023