The Gediz (Turkey) Earthquake of March 28, 1970

Abstract

ON March 28, 1970, at about 2300 h, Turkey was shaken by a severe earthquake of magnitude 7.1. The earthquake occurred in the upper reaches of the Gediz River and affected the region between the towns of Kutahya, Emet, Simav and Usak (Fig. 1), not far from where earlier shocks had caused damage in 1866, 1896, 1930, 1943 and 1944. In the province of Kutahya, 1,000 people were killed and 520 were injured. Within an area of about 3,000 km², 3,500 housing units collapsed, 7,700 were badly damaged and 10,600 suffered moderate damage. More than 100 public buildings collapsed and 240 were damaged beyond repair. The earthquake affected 33,000 families, making homeless 80,000 people in 254 villages. The damage is estimated at about £9 million.