Earthquake In A LEDC Turkey; 1999

What Happened? Centred around Izmit in Northwest Turkey, the earthquake occurred on Tuesday 17 th August It affected an area over a radius of 80km.

Primary Effects included a death toll of approximately 5,500, with another 30,000 injured and 250,000 made homeless. Over 100,000 buildings collapsed. Infrastructure damage included a 1km stretch of elevated road, numerous railway bridges, and 120 of the city's 150 quays. Of 1200 people rescued on the day of the quake, only 300 survived because of the totally inadequate hospital facilities.

Secondary Effects Included outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, due to the polluted water supply. People made homeless by the quake had no escape from the intense heat, dust and stench of rotting bodies. A few days after the quake there was no water, electricity or sewage systems working.

Secondary Effects The threat of disease was so great that rescue workers had to wear protective gloves and masks, and the cities Gocuk, Yalova and Izmit had large areas quarantined. It took the Government in Ankara 48 hours to organise emergency troops to go to the area. Locals were totally unprepared for the disaster, despite it being a common earthquake area.