A massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated northwestern Turkey in 1999
In the early hours of August 17, 1999, a violent tectonic shift beneath the İzmit region of Turkey triggered a catastrophe that redefined modern seismic safety and international disaster response.
The 7.6 magnitude İzmit earthquake struck northwestern Turkey with such ferocity that the ground shifted by nearly five meters in some areas. Lasting only 37 seconds, the tremor claimed over 17,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The disaster centered on the North Anatolian Fault, one of the most active systems in the world.
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