KOCAELI — 1999 · Major Tragedy
The 1999 Gölcük Earthquake
At 03:02 on the night of 17 August 1999, a major earthquake struck with its epicentre in the Gölcük district of Kocaeli. Kandilli Observatory measured it at magnitude 7.4, while the US Geological Survey recorded 7.6. The rupture along the western section of the North Anatolian Fault affected Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova, Istanbul, Bolu, Bursa and Eskişehir. According to official figures, 17,480 people died and 23,781 were injured; a 2010 report by the Turkish parliament put the death toll at 18,373. The heaviest losses were in Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova, and the naval base at Gölcük was badly damaged. The disaster became the starting point for sweeping Turkish legislation on building inspection, compulsory earthquake insurance and disaster management.
- Date
- 1999
- Place
- Gölcük, Kocaeli
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 40.7170, 29.8200 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 17 August 1999A magnitude 7.4 earthquake centred on Gölcük struck at 03:02.
- August 1999Large-scale search and rescue operations took place across Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova.
- 12 November 1999A second major earthquake, centred on Düzce, struck the region again.
- 2000-2001Compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) and building-inspection rules were introduced.
- 2010A parliamentary inquiry report put the death toll at 18,373.
Sources
- Vikipedi — 1999 Gölcük depremi tr.wikipedia.org ↗
- Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanlığı — 17 Ağustos 1999 Gölcük Depreminin 21. Yılı izmir.csb.gov.tr ↗
- Wikipedia
- Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.