Shallow M5.7 and M6.0 earthquakes hit Iran – Turkey border region, claiming lives of at least 9 people
A series of shallow earthquakes, including M5.7 at a depth of 6.4 km (4 miles) and M6.0 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) hit Iran – Turkey border region on Sunday, February 23, 2020, claiming the lives of at least 9 people and injuring 37 others, 9 seriously. The quakes struck a remote mountainous region, with a history of powerful earthquakes.
The strongest earthquakes include the aforementioned M5.7 at 05:53 UTC (USGS; EMSC; ISC) and M6.0 at 16:00 UTC (USGS; EMSC; M5.9 ISC) — with the epicenter located about 39.8 km (24.7 miles) ESE of Özalp (population 8 249), Turkey, 46.4 km (28.8 miles) NW of Salmās (population 81 606), Iran, 47.9 km (29.8 miles) W of Khowy (population 175 370), Iran, 61.2 km (38 miles) NNW of Başkale, Turkey, and 88.9 km (55.2 miles) E of Van (population 371 713), Turkey.
4 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking after M5.7, 23 000 strong, 54 000 moderate and 1 942 000 light.
Image credit: Google, TW/SAM. Data source: EMSC
For both earthquakes, the USGS issued a yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.
A green alert was issued for economic losses. There is a low likelihood of damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and dressed stone/block masonry construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Image credit: Google, TW/SAM. Data source: USGS
According to Turkish authorities, the M5.7 earthquake killed at least 9 people and injured 37 others, of them 9 seriously.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told Anadolu news agency that some buildings were damaged in various villages in the Baskale district of Van province, adding the most damage-prone constructions in the area were mud houses which locals build.
Search and rescue operations are in progress, Soylu said.
According to IRNA, Iran's official news agency, the quake affected 43 villages in the mountainous Qotour area. At least 40 people have been injured.
Governor of West Azarbaijan Province Mohammad Mahdi Shahriari said that some of the village houses were destroyed partly and some others completely.
On January 24, 2020, the eastern Turkish province of Elazig was hit by a powerful M6.8 earthquake in which at least 39 people lost their lives and more than 1 600 were injured.
Update
11:32 UTC, February 24
The death toll stands at 9.
The number of injured people rose to 125 and the number of collapsed buildings to 1 000 (mainly in Van province).
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: Google, TW/SAM
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Another Earthquake – 6.0 now recorded close by at 16:00 UTC 23/02/20, as per USGS website, followed by a 4.5 aftershock approx one hour later – more aftershocks expected over the next 24 hours. Thoughts are with all those affected.