Page 309 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 4

Mahmut Bilgehan

(a)

Figure 1. Annual Mortality Rate Index Due to Disasters Occurred in the Last 40 Years
(Benli et al., 2018)

1.1.1. Earthquake
Earthquakes are the natural phenomena that occur as a result of
displacements in the earth crust. Severe earthquakes can cause loss of lives,
injuries and extensive damage as well as a number of effects, such as the
collapse of buildings, landslides and tsunamis. The intensity and effects of
earthquakes can vary depending on factors such as local structural conditions,
the magnitude and depth of the earthquake (Stein and Wysession, 2013).
According to the reports of the United States Geological Survey Service
(USGS), it is estimated that about 500 thousand measurable earthquakes
occur in the world every year. Only 20% of these earthquakes can be felt
by people. About 100 of the earthquakes that can be felt lead to damage.
Earthquakes are the one among other disasters that cause the highest loss of
life and property in Türkiye. A significant part of the loss of life as a result of
disasters, such as 60 percent, is due to earthquakes. Türkiye is located on the
Mediterranean-Alpine-Himalayan belt which is one of the most active seismic
belts (Figure 2). This is an active belt where about twenty percent of the world’s
earthquakes occur and which produces at least one earthquake ranging from
magnitude 5.0 to 6.0 in Türkiye each year (Benli et al. 2018).
European Seismic Risk Map in Figure 3 shows how dangerous is the whole
geography where Türkiye is located in terms of earthquakes. Most part of
Europe is in a geography that is less prone to earthquakes, while Italy, Greece
and Türkiye, in particular, embrace this hazard at a quite high level (Benli et
al. 2018).

298 The Journal of Environment, Urban and Climate