Earthquake In A LEDC

Turkey; 1999

What Happened?

• Centred around Izmit in Northwest Turkey, the earthquake occurred on Tuesday 17th August 1999.

• It affected an area over a radius of 80km.

Primary Effects

• included a death toll of approximately 5,500, with another 30,000 injured and 250,000 made homeless.

• Over 100,000 buildings collapsed. • Infrastructure damage included a 1km stretch

of elevated road, numerous railway bridges, and 120 of the city's 150 quays.

• Of 1200 people rescued on the day of the quake, only 300 survived because of the totally inadequate hospital facilities.

Secondary Effects

• Included outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, due to the polluted water supply.

• People made homeless by the quake had no escape from the intense heat, dust and stench of rotting bodies.

• A few days after the quake there was no water, electricity or sewage systems working.

Secondary Effects

• The threat of disease was so great that rescue workers had to wear protective gloves and masks, and the cities Gocuk, Yalova and Izmit had large areas quarantined.

• It took the Government in Ankara 48 hours to organise emergency troops to go to the area. Locals were totally unprepared for the disaster, despite it being a common earthquake area.