2011 Kütahya earthquake

The 2011 Kütahya earthquake struck near a populous region of western Turkey at 23:15 EEST (20:15 UTC) on 19 May with a moment magnitude of 5.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). With an epicenter just to the east of Simav, it occurred at an estimated depth of 9.1 kilometers (5.7 mi), resulting in strong shaking in much of Kütahya.

2011 Kütahya earthquake
Istanbul
Ankara
UTC time2011-05-19 20:15:24
ISC event602607377
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateMay 19, 2011 (2011-05-19)
Local time23:15:24 UTC+03:00
Magnitude5.8 Mw(ComCat) 
Depth9.1 km (6 mi)
Epicenter39.137°N 29.074°E / 39.137; 29.074
Areas affectedTurkey
Total damageBuilding collapse, shattered windows
Max. intensityVII (Very strong)[1]
Aftershocks450+ (max 4.6 ML)[2][3]
Casualties2 dead, 122 injured[4]

Many locals panicked and power was lost to most of Simav. A hospital in Simav reported an unknown number of injuries, and some buildings sustained damage. An elderly woman in İnegöl suffered a heart attack in the immediate aftermath of the tremor, and was later confirmed dead. In Simav, one person was killed after being struck by a concrete block.[5] More than 450 weak aftershocks followed; the strongest registered at a magnitude of 4.6.[2][6]

Earthquake

The magnitude 5.8 (Mw) earthquake occurred inland on 19 May 2011 at 20:15 UTC at a depth of 9.1 km (5.7 mi), as a result of shallow intraplate faulting in an area of north-south tectonic extension about 80 km (50 mi) west-southwest of Kütahya city. High levels of seismic activity have been registered in the region; historically, it has been home to many destructive earthquakes. Preliminary analysis suggested the quake was triggered by a slip on an east–west trending normal fault.[7] National seismologists identified the fault as the active Simav fault, which has previously generated earthquakes of similar intensities. Due to its magnitude, the quake was believed to have caused a surface rupture near the epicenter.[8] Initial estimates from the United States Geological Survey placed the magnitude at 6.0 (Mw), though this — as well as its focal depth — was revised shortly after.[9] Concurrently, the quake was assigned a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 (ML) by the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.[10]

Intensity
USGS ShakeMap for the event

Owing to the shallow depth, powerful shaking was reported in many areas around the epicenter. Maximum ground motion in Simav was estimated at VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli scale; Intensity VI (Strong) was also reported in the two proximate small districts of Pazarlar and Şaphane.[11] Most of Kütahya Province, as well as some parts of adjacent provinces, reported lighter shaking (MM IV–V), with weak tremors felt as far away as Istanbul[12] several hundred kilometers from the epicenter.[1]

A light magnitude 3.8 ML foreshock struck Simav at 19:59 UTC, 23 minutes before the main shock.[13] As of 20 May 2011, over 450 minor aftershocks were reported in the region.[2] Cumulatively, a total of 8 measured magnitude 4.0 (ML) or greater; the strongest occurred near the epicenter at a magnitude of 4.6 (ML) about 10 minutes after the main shock.[3][14] There were no immediate reports of additional damage following the tremors.

Damage and casualties

The earthquake struck at midnight near a well-populated area; a good amount of structures around the epicenter were reported to be vulnerable to earthquake shaking.[1][6] Residents in over 10 provinces exited their homes and rushed into vehicles, with some people reportedly jumping from windows and balconies in panic.[15][16] Power supply was cut to most of Simav in order to prevent fires, and telephone lines in the area were down.[6][17] Hundreds of structures in Samiv sustained damage, particularly ranging from deep cracks to roof collapse. Several small fires were sparked by damaged stoves in collapsed apartments, and the tremor toppled furniture in most residences.[15]

A total of 122 people were injured; at least one person was reported to be in critical condition, and others suffered heart attacks and anxiety attacks.[17] A man was killed after being struck in the head by a concrete block, while officials said an elderly woman in İnegöl died from cardiac.[5][6] Other sources reported a third unidentified jump victim, though the validity of this claim remains uncertain.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Pager - M 5.8 – Western Turkey". USGS. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  2. Staff Writer (2011-05-20). "Kütahya'yı 5.9'luk deprem vurdu" (in Turkish). CNN Türk. Archived from the original on 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  3. "SİMAV (KÜTAHYA) 19.05.2011 23:25:32". Kandilli Observatory. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  4. Comert, Yesim (2011-05-20). "Earthquake hits western Turkey; 2 dead". CNN. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  5. "İl il Simav depremi" (in Turkish). NTV. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  6. Associated Press (2011-05-20). "Dozens injured, three dead in Turkey quake". Fairfax New Zealand Limited. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  7. "Magnitude 5.8 – Western Turkey; Tectonic Summary". USGS. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  8. ÇOMÜ (2011-05-19). "Kütahya'da 5.9 şiddetinde deprem haberi" (in Turkish). Bugün Gazetesi. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  9. Zheng (Xinhua). "6.0-magnitude quake hits western Turkey: USGS". CriEnglish.com. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  10. "SİMAV (KÜTAHYA) 19.05.2011 23:15:22" (in Turkish). Kandilli Observatory. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  11. "Pager Version 2 – M 5.8, Western Turkey" (PDF). USGS. 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  12. AFP (2011-05-19). "5.9-magnitude quake hits northwest Turkey: one dead". Google Hosted News. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  13. "SİMAV (KÜTAHYA) 19.05.2011 22:59:46". Kandilli Observatory. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  14. "Latest Seismicity in Turkey: Last Seven Days". Kandilli Observatory. May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  15. "Kütahya'da 5.9 büyüklüğünde deprem" (in Turkish). Doğan Haber Ajansı. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  16. CİHAN (2011-05-20). "Simav belediyesi halkı ilçe dışına taşıyor". Zaman (in Turkish). Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  17. "Two dead, dozens wounded as quake hits western Turkey". Today's Zaman. 2011-05-20. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  18. Butler, Daren (2011-05-20). "Turkish quake kills two, injures 79 - minister". Reuters. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
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