23 October 2011 Van earthquake
2011 Van earthquakes is located in Turkey
2011 Van earthquakes
UTC time 
 A: 2011-10-23 10:41:22
 B: 2011-11-09 19:23:33
ISC event 
 A: 17394270
 B: 604370429
USGS-ANSS 
 A: ComCat
 B: ComCat
Local dateA: 23 October 2011
B: 9 November 2011
Local timeEEST: UTC+03.00
 A: 13:41
 B: 21:23 (EET?)
Magnitude 
 A: 7.1 Mww[1]
 B: 5.6 Mww[2]
DepthA: 7.6 km (4.7 mi)[3]
B: 5.0 km (3.1 mi)[4]
Epicenter38°37′41″N 43°29′10″E / 38.628°N 43.486°E / 38.628; 43.486
Areas affectedEastern Turkey
Max. intensityA: VIII (Severe) [5]
B: VII (Very strong) [6]
Peak acceleration~0.5 g
Casualties604 killed and 4,152 injured in 23 October earthquake[7]

The 2011 Van earthquakes occurred in eastern Turkey near the city of Van. The first earthquake happened on 23 October at 13:41 local time. The shock had a Mww magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe).[5] It occurred at a shallow depth, causing heavy shaking across much of eastern Turkey and lighter tremors across neighboring parts of the South Caucasus and Levant. According to Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency on 30 October, the earthquake killed 604 and injured 4,152. At least 11,232 buildings sustained damage in the region, 6,017 of which were found to be uninhabitable. The uninhabitable homes left as much as 8,321 households with an average household population of around 7.6 homeless in the province; this could mean that at least around 60,000 people were left homeless. The other 5,215 have been damaged but are habitable.[7][8][9] A separate earthquake within the same earthquake system happened on 9 November at 21:23 local time (19:23 UTC). 38 people were killed and 260 people were injured in the 9 November earthquake.[10]

23 October earthquake

The magnitude 7.2 (Mww) Eastern Highlands earthquake occurred inland on 23 October 2011 at 13:41 local time (EEST), centered about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north-northeast of Van, Turkey and at an estimated focal depth of 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi). Its focal region and much of easternmost Turkey lie towards the southern boundary of the complex zone of continental collision between the Arabian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, beyond the eastern extent of the Armenian and Asia Minor fault zones. Part of the convergence between these two plates takes place along the Bitlis-Zagros fold and thrust belt.[11] The earthquake's focal mechanism indicates oblique thrust faulting, consistent with the expected tectonics in the region of the Bitlis-Zagros Fault Zone, where thrust mechanisms dominate.[12][13]

The size of the rupture has been estimated as 60 km x 20 km, consistent with the observed distribution of aftershocks, on a WSW-ENE orientated fault plane with a dip of about 35°. An offset of about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) has been estimated at 10–15 kilometres (9.3 mi) depth but there is no visible rupture of the ground surface. The rupture lasted for about 50 seconds.[14]

Intensity

USGS ShakeMaps showing the intensity patterns for the mainshock (left) and the 9 November event

Due to its great intensity and shallow depth, the earthquake produced significant ground motions across a large area. Severe shaking measuring MM VIII on the Mercalli scale occurred in Van, although widespread strong to severe (MM VI–VIII) shaking was observed in many smaller and less populated areas around the epicenter.[5] Lighter but well-felt ground motions (MM V–III) spread much farther across the region, extending into surrounding countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria.[5][15][16]

Aftershocks

There have been 1,561 aftershocks above magnitude 2.0 as of 30 October. The highest magnitude aftershock came at 11:45 pm Local on 23 October, with a MI 5.7 and Mw  6.0. The number of aftershocks reported in ranges as follows:[7] 556 ranging from magnitude 2 to 3; 832 ranging from magnitude 3 to 4; 108 ranging from magnitude 4 to 5; and 7 ranging from magnitude 5 to 6. In the first five months there were 9,367 aftershocks with magnitudes in the range 1.5 to 5.8.[17]

Impact

The earthquakes affected much of eastern Turkey, demolishing hundreds of buildings and burying numerous victims under the rubble. Erciş, a town near Van, was hardest hit by the violent shaking; at least 55 destroyed buildings, 45 fatalities, and 156 injuries occurred in the town alone.[18] Most of the buildings collapsed along the town's main road and were residential, raising the possibility of a higher death toll. In smaller villages near the epicenter, the shaking demolished almost all the brick houses.[19]

Collapsed structures and damaged car in Van almost a week after the earthquake

In Van city center, at least 100 people were confirmed dead, and 970 buildings collapsed in and around the city.[20] About 200 inmates escaped after the walls of a prison succumbed to the shaking, although 50 were quickly recaptured.[19] The Van Ferit Melen Airport was damaged, but contradictory reports were given: According to NTV, airplanes were diverted to the neighboring cities, while according to the Anatolia News Agency, the earthquake did not disrupt the air traffic.[21][22] The natural gas, water, power, and communication systems in Van were all reported affected and in function again within 24 hours after the earthquake.[13]

Twenty-four hours following the main shock the death toll stood at 264 but estimates were ranged up to a thousand.[23] As of 25 October, rescue and aid efforts are still ongoing, as many as 40,000 people are believed to be homeless due to the considerable number of collapsed or damaged buildings. Multiple news reports on 27 October suggest up to 2300 are injured with many still caught under rubble but this figure increased to over 4100 by 30 October.[8][24] Latest figures suggest that casualties exceeds 604 and an estimated 2200 buildings are damaged or destroyed in the affected areas.[7][8] The death toll was caused primarily from building collapse in urban areas.[13]

National response

As of 23 October, The Turkish government had responded the disaster with 1,275 personnel, 174 vehicles, 290 health officials, 43 ambulances, and 6 air ambulances. Local people also joined the rescue action, some using their bare hands.[25] Survivors and opposition politicians have criticized the crisis management of the government.[26]

A rescue operation being carried out by members of the AKUT Search and Rescue Association.

On 27 October Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency announced that 13 million TL (around $7 million US) has been sent so far in terms of emergency relief efforts. Another 8.6 million TL (just under $5 million US) has been donated via charity so far. There are now a total of 3,826 search and rescue officers, 904 medical personnel, 18 search dogs, 651 construction equipment and vehicles, including 146 ambulances, 7 rescue choppers (air ambulances), 46 generators, 77 projectors, 95 portable toilets, 37 mobile kitchens, 3,051 kitchen sets, 6,359 catalytic stoves and a mobile oven in the disaster area. 25,185 tents sent by Turkish Red Crescent Society were distributed. 10 collective shelter tents, 60 prefabricated houses, 90 Mevlana Transitional Houses(translation needed) houses have also been erected. 109,986 blankets, 1,150 quilts and 5,109 sleeping bags have also been distributed. 3 meals a day are being provided with distribution of hot meals food etc. Also 30 field tents have been set up for public services and psychosocial trauma support.[27]

As of 27 October, in some sites, rescue work had been stopped where attention was turning to the needs of the survivors,[28] however, there were still survivors found and saved from the rubble on the same day and thereafter.[29][30] The government had announced that tents will be delivered to those whose homes were deemed unsafe rather than whoever lined up asking for one.[31]

According to Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency as of 30 October, 12:00 UTC there were 4,440 search and rescue personnel, 1,710 medical personnel, 18 search dogs, 651 construction equipment and vehicles including 146 ambulances, 143 generators, 77 projectors, 95 portable toilets, 42,711 tents (including 8,166 from overseas aid), 54 collective shelter tent, 69 general purpose tents, 65 prefabricated houses, 2,300 Mevlana houses, 160,360 blankets, 1,179 quilts, 37 mobile kitchens, 3,051 kitchen sets, 6,899 catalytic stoves, 5,792 sleeping bags, and 1 mobile kitchen were present.[7]

International response

The European Union and NATO expressed their condolences and NATO offered help.[32] The President of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Derviş Eroğlu also sent condolences.[33] United States President Barack Obama said: "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish ally in this difficult time and are ready to assist the Turkish authorities."[34]

Armenia,[35] Azerbaijan,[36] Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China,[37] Denmark,[38] Georgia, Germany,[39] Greece, Hungary, Iran,[40] Ireland,[41] Israel,[16] Japan, Kosovo, New Zealand, Pakistan,[42] Poland, Portugal,[43] Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,[44] Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States also offered Turkey aid after the earthquake.[45][46] People in over 200 cities taking part in Thrill the World 2011 also pledged all proceeds from their efforts.[47]

The Russian Emergencies Ministry's aircraft Il-76 seen at the Turkish airport of Erzurum, on having delivered humanitarian aid to earthquake victims.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül, said that Turkish teams were capable of handling the disaster management.[48] Thus, as of 23 October, Turkey stated that it had acknowledged but declined all the aid proposals with the exception of neighbouring Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,[49] and Iran, with aid and rescue workers arriving at the affected area shortly after the quake struck without notifying Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[36][50][51][52] Azerbaijan sent 145 rescuers at night on 23 October, another two rescue teams were sent to Turkey afterwards, bringing the total number to 213 rescue personnel. The Azerbaijani teams rescued 12 people, pulled 60 bodies from the rubbles.[53] The Iranian Red Crescent set up relief camps to accommodate people made homeless by the quake. Several injured were transferred for treatment to the Iranian border city of Khoy. However, on 25 October, Turkey announced that they would accept aid from other countries also.

The Turkish government is looking for tents, prefabricated houses, and living containers.[54] The United Nations was sending thousands of tents as well as blankets and mattresses from 28 October on.[28][55]

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that Erzurum would be a hub for international assistance sent by plane, and Van had been asked to establish a centre for assistance coming overland.[31]

As of 27 October, aid from other countries are as follows: Azerbaijan sent search and rescue team of 145 people, 1,250 tents, 700 beds, 40 generators, 5,000 blankets, 40 pieces of kitchen equipment. 490 tents by France, 200 tents by Italy, 284 tents by Russia, 60 tents, 300 blankets, 300 beds, and 60 stoves by Kazakhstan, 4 general purpose tents by Ukraine, 7 prefabricated houses by Israel and tents for 2000 by Belgium sent.[7][56] Also Armenian government sent 40 tons of cargo to Turkey, including tents, sleeping bags, blankets and bedding.[57] On 31 October Bulgaria provided 100 tents for winter conditions and will provide 50 more tents, 1,000 blankets and 300 mats.[58]

Rescue personnel were able to extricate twenty-three survivors from the rubble of 2 hotels and one apartment building, but the bodies of 7 others were also retrieved. Since most buildings were evacuated after the October 2011 earthquake, only those 3 buildings were occupied, otherwise the death toll could have been worse.[59]

9 November earthquake

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake occurred 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southwest of Van (near the town of Edremit) at a shallow depth of 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) on 9 November at 21:23 local time (19:23 UTC).[4] Early reports from Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay stated that the event caused five deaths in the collapse of several hotels, though 25 buildings in total had fallen, with most of those buildings being empty since the earthquake a month earlier. The Turkish Anatolian Agency reported that the event was followed by an aftershock measuring 4.4.[60]

Among the buildings collapsed by the earthquake was the six-story Bayram Hotel, which was hosting journalists and rescue workers. A cameraman for the Cihan News Agency had left the hotel just prior to the earthquake and said that some journalists trapped in the rubble in the building had sent text messages to colleagues asking to be rescued. The building, which had been renovated the previous year, was forty years old.[59][61] A Japanese aid worker who had traveled to Turkey for the October earthquake relief work was reported to have been pulled alive from the rubble of the Bayram hotel but later died of his injuries at a hospital. Residents were angry with authorities for not having closed the building after it suffered cracks and a damaged elevator in the large earthquake a month earlier.[62]

The Kandilli earthquake center of Turkey said that the 9 November earthquake was an independent earthquake within the same earthquake system.[63]

Disaster management

The government response in terms of emergency assistance was marginal. Temporary shelter was provided mainly by container houses. Approximately 20,000 containers were sent to the earthquake zone. The main problem with this was supplying so many containers in such a short time. Approximately four months after the Van earthquake, the container cities were settled. As a result of this the victims could only be accommodated in container cities after March 2012. Until March 2012 most of the victims set up their own tents for shelter. Many people preferred nylon based materials for economic reasons. Nylon has low ignition temperature and during winter many tent fires occurred. 12 people are dead and more than 160 people are injured because of tent fires[64] In an interview with The New Yorker, Garo Paylan from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) reasoned that the Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not want to assist the Kurds who are the majority in Van.[65]

See also

References

  1. ↑ ANSS. "Turkey 2011: M 7.1 – eastern Turkey". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ ANSS. "Turkey 2011a: M 5.6 – eastern Turkey". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  3. ↑ ANSS: Turkey 2011 .
  4. 1 2 ANSS: Turkey 2011a .
  5. 1 2 3 4 ANSS: Turkey 2011, ShakeMap .
  6. ↑ ANSS: Turkey 2011a, ShakeMap .
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Earthquake Van – Ercis, Turkey". earthquake-report.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 SELCAN HACAOGLU (27 October 2011). "Turkey quake death toll rises to 534". Associated Press.
  9. ↑ "Death toll rises to 582 in quake-hit Turkey". Xinhua News Agency. 29 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Turkey earthquake death toll rises; two journalists among those killed - CNN.com". CNN. 12 November 2011.
  11. ↑ Talebian, M.; Jackson J. (2004). "A Reappraisal of Earthquake Focal Mechanisms and Active Shortening in the Zagros Mountains of Iran". Geophysical Journal International. Royal Astronomical Society. 156 (3): 506–526. Bibcode:2004GeoJI.156..506T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2004.02092.x.
  12. ↑ "Magnitude 7.2 – Eastern Turkey 2011 October 23 10:41:21 UTC". United States Geological Survey. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 "Comparing the current impact of the Van Earthquake to past earthquakes in Eastern Turkey" (PDF). CEDIM Forensic Earthquake Analysis Group. 2 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "23 Ekim 2011 Van Depremi Basın Bülteni" (in Turkish). Kandilli Observatory of Boğaziçi University. 23 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Strong Earthquake Hits Turkey". Interpress News. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Israel Offers Aid to Turkey in Wake of Massive Earthquake". Haaretz. 23 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Van'da 5 ayda 9 bin 367 artçı meydana geldi". Hürriyet Daily News (in Turkish). Doğan Yayın Holding. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  18. ↑ Hacaoglu, Selcan (23 October 2011). "7.2 Quake in Turkey Kills 45, Collapses Buildings".
  19. 1 2 (registration required) Arsu, Sebnem (23 October 2011). "Many Die as Eastern Turkey Is Jolted by Quake". The New York Times.
  20. ↑ "Death Toll Mounts after Earthquake in Eastern Turkey". Associated Press (via Herald Sun). 24 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "7.2 Quake in Turkey Kills at Least 138, Collapses Buildings – More Than 100 Aftershocks Are Recorded – The Quake Is Also Felt Widely in Iran and Armenia, Though There Are No Reports of Casualties There". Los Angeles Times. 23 October 2011.
  22. ↑ Quake 'may have killed 1000'. The Daily Telegraph.
  23. ↑ Magnay, Diana; Comert, Yesim (25 October 2011). "279 Reported Dead in Turkey Earthquake; 1,300 More Hurt". CNN. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  24. ↑ Letsch, Constanze; Walker, Peter (24 October 2011). "Turkey Earthquake Rescuers Free Baby, Mother and Grandmother from Rubble – Two-Week-Old Azra Karaduman Pulled from Collapsed Building in Ercis Two Days after Quake That Killed Hundreds of People". The Guardian. London.
  25. ↑ "Relief effort under way following huge earthquake - IFRC". ifrc.org. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  26. ↑ Staff (26 October 2011). "Turkey Earthquake: Death Toll Passes 430". BBC News. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  27. ↑ "Earthquake Van – Ercis, Turkey – 534 dead, 2300 injured, at least 5250 households long-term homeless". earthquake-report.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  28. 1 2 "Turkey earthquake: Teenage boy found after four days". BBC News. 28 October 2011.
  29. ↑ Ozerkan, Fulya (28 October 2011). "Boy rescued 108 hours after Turkey quake". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  30. ↑ "Turkey earthquake: rescuers pull 13-year-old from the rubble". The Guardian. London. 28 October 2011.
  31. 1 2 "Man pulled out alive 4 days after Turkey quake". Reuters. 27 October 2011.
  32. ↑ "EU 'Saddened' by Turkey Quake, NATO Offers Help". Khaleej Times. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  33. ↑ "Dünyadan taziye mesajı yağıyor". Hürriyet Daily News (in Turkish). 23 October 2011.
  34. ↑ Bohan, Caren; Trott, Bill (23 October 2011). "Obama: U.S. Greatly Concerned over Turkey Quake". Reuters.
  35. ↑ "Armenian President Offers Aid to Turkey". Tert. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  36. 1 2 "Azerbaycan, deprem bölgesine ilk dış yardımı gönderen ülke oldu. Azeri hükümeti, arama kurtarma ekipleriyle birlikte tıbbi ve yaşam malzemesi dolu uçağı Van'a gönderdi". Internet Haber (in Turkish). 23 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "Turkey Earthquake: Up to 1,000 Feared Dead as Dozens of Buildings Collapse". National Post. Canada. 23 October 2011.
  38. ↑ "Min kone og mit barn er derinde!". Jyllandsposten (in Danish). 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011.
  39. ↑ "Germany Offers Help to Turkey After Quake, Westerwelle Says". Bloomberg Businessweek. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011.
  40. ↑ "Iran Is Ready To Help with Every Aspect Because of the Earthquake in Van". Habermonitor. 23 October 2011.
  41. ↑ "Tánaiste Offers Rapid Response Corps to Quake-Hit Turkey". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2011.
  42. ↑ "Pakistan Sympatises with Turkey; Offers Immediate Assistance". Associated Press of Pakistan. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Turquia/Sismo: Passos Coelho apresenta condolências e oferece ajuda de Portugal" (in Portuguese). 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011.
  44. ↑ "New Taipei Rescue Team Prepares To Aid Turkey". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 24 October 2011.
  45. ↑ "International Community Offers Aid to Turkey after Earthquake – Fifteen Countries Including Israel and Greece Have Offered Aid to Turkey after a Strong Quake Hit Southeastern Turkey on Sunday". Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. 23 October 2011.
  46. ↑ Hoffmann, Carsten; Fuhrigtitle, Frank (23 October 2011). "Hundreds Feared Dead after Quake in Turkey". McClatchy Newspapers (via The Salt Lake Tribune). Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
  47. ↑ "Thrill The World - A Celebration of Dance and Community inspired by Michael Jackson". thrilltheworld.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  48. ↑ "Barak Says Turkey Not Interested in Israel's Earthquake Aid". Today's Zaman. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011.
  49. ↑ Burch, Jonathon; Pamuk, Humeyra (25 October 2011). "Quake Rescuers Save Baby, Turkey Requests Aid". Reuters. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  50. ↑ "Int'l aid starts to come in as Turkey recalculates assistance needed". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  51. ↑ "Desperate Hunt for Survivors as Cold Moves in Smiling Girl, Baby Pulled from Rubble on Grim Day as Death Toll Hits 279, Says Deputy PM". Agence France-Presse (via The Vancouver Sun). 25 October 2011.
  52. ↑ Lubell, Maayan (23 October 2011). "Turkey Declines Israeli Aid Offer". Reuters.
  53. ↑ Rescuers of Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations return home after participating in rescue operations in quake-hit Van Archived 4 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  54. ↑ "Turkey earthquake: Government will accept foreign aid". BBC News. 26 October 2011.
  55. ↑ Section, United Nations News Service (28 October 2011). "UN News - UN refugee agency begins emergency airlift for quake victims in eastern Turkey". UN News Service Section.
  56. ↑ Keinon, Herb (25 October 2011). "Turkey Says 'Yes' to Israeli Earthquake Aid Offer". The Jerusalem Post.
  57. ↑ "Armenia to Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to Turkey on Friday - Epress.am". 27 October 2011.
  58. ↑ "Bulgaria gives aid to Turkey following earthquake". The Sofia Echo. 31 October 2011.
  59. 1 2 Fraser, Suzan (9 November 2011). "Earthquake kills at least 7 in Turkey, dozens trapped in area hit by deadly temblor last month". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
  60. ↑ Atay-Alam, Hande; Finkel, Andrew (10 November 2011). "At least 5 dead in quake in eastern Turkey". CNN.
  61. ↑ "Turkey earthquake: Seven dead in toppled Van hotel". BBC News. BBC. 10 November 2011.
  62. ↑ Guzel, Mehmet (10 November 2011). "Aid worker one of at least 12 dead in latest Turkey quake". Associated Press.
  63. ↑ "Kalafat: Artçı değil yeni bir deprem". 10 November 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  64. ↑ "2. Proje ve Yapım Yönetimi Kongresi Bildiriler Kitabı" (PDF). September 2012. p. 132. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2017.
  65. ↑ "Turkey's Earthquake Response Is as Political as the Conditions That Increased the Devastation". The New Yorker. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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