Preferred Hazard Information

Intensities reached VIII on the MMI scale – very well built structures received slight damage. Older buildings suffered great damage. There was also limited liquefaction. The damage seen corresponds to VIII and perhaps very isolated VIII-IX locations on the MMI scale.

Vulnerability & Exposure

The epicentral region has an economic capital stock in excess of 30 billion USD with regard to the zone of VI intensity or more. In most cases historically this has been associated with at least 2% loss ratios thus leading to a rule of thumb estimate of at least $600mn. The population in the exposed zone of intensities VI and above is over 1.6 million people, and this is a strong economic center. Over 35% of houses have insurance protection through the TCIP.

Climate Information

The affected area has a continental location, the Mediterranean Sea is more than 300 kilometres away in the southwest, and the Black Sea is also a good 300 kilometres north of the epicentre. The affected area is characterised by rugged terrain, with mountain ranges, basins, valleys and plateaus. Mountain tops are at a height above 2000 metres. Elazig is situated at an altitude of around 1000 meters.

The climate in the affected area is continental and dry in summer. The temperature differences between summer and winter and also between day and night are usually large due to dry air and solar radiation.

High low-pressure activity during the winter months over the Black Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East leads to monthly precipitation of 40 to 70 mm in January and February, some of which falls as snow.