Damage observations from the Izmit (Kocaeli), Turkey earthquake of 17 August 1999
Moncarz P., Shusto L.
CICIND REPORT Vol. 17, No. 1, 2001
Order No: CR-209
The Izmit (Kocaeli) earthquake struck Western Turkey on August 17 1999 with a devastating 7.4 magnitude (Mw). It lasted 45 seconds and was felt over thousands of square miles of Turkey's most densely populated region resulting in a major fire at the Tupras oil refinery, widespread soil liquefaction and thousands of collapsed buildings as well as the loss of an estimated 16,000 lives. Its impact went far beyond what should be acceptable in a modern earthquake engineering educated construction community. The residential and commercial structures were mainly damaged because of socio-economically driven shortcuts in the implementation of engineering and construction rules well-known through the Turkish building code. Industrial structures weathered the earthquake relatively well but the areas of weakness identified should be taken on board in the seismic upgrading programme.