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Lesson Plan: The Devastating Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Ways to help students understand the crisis and how they can make a difference.

By The Learning Network

Lesson Overview

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful quakes ever recorded in Turkey, struck on Feb. 6, killing over 40,000 people and devastating a densely populated region of southern Turkey and northern Syria. The rescue effort has been complicated by the location of the quake zone, in a region already burdened by a war and a refugee crisis, and straddling government- and opposition-controlled lands in Syria.

In this teaching resource we provide teachers and students with ways to better understand the crisis, including photos, videos and audio of the devastation; background on the region; the science behind earthquakes and why they can be so disastrous; as well as ways to help.

Read about the devastation.

Several buildings were reduced to rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey.

What have your students heard about the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria? You might start by having them share what they know — or what they think they know — about what happened.

Then, invite them to read the latest account of the disaster , and answer basic comprehension questions, such as:

1. How big was the earthquake? How does it compare to others in the region?

2. What has been the impact on Turkey and Syria?

3. What have rescue efforts been like so far? How have they been complicated by weather in the region?

4. There are several simultaneous crises compounding the damage in Turkey and Syria. What are they and how are they affecting the recovery from the quake?

You and your students can continue to follow live updates here .

Look through photos and videos and hear from witnesses on the ground.

Next, you might have students explore some multimedia resources so they can see and hear first-person accounts of the devastation. They can scroll through images and videos that show scenes from the aftermath, or listen to this episode of The Daily podcast to hear from witnesses and survivors (if you are short on time, they might listen to only the first 11 minutes). Some of the images and accounts are graphic, so please preview both of these resources before sharing them with your students to determine what is appropriate for your class.

After exploring these resources, in writing or through discussion with a partner, students can respond to the following prompts:

What did you learn about the impact of the earthquake? Share at least three details that stand out to you.

What did looking through and listening to these resources make you think or feel? What images, sounds or statistics are most compelling, meaningful, moving or important to you? Why?

What questions do you have about the earthquake, its impact or aftermath?

Understand more about Turkey and Syria.

To help students learn more about the region and understand the ways in which its geopolitics have affected the rescue effort, we offer several ideas:

Brief quizzes: For background on these two countries, have students take our two short geography quizzes for Turkey and Syria . Both include a map question as well as additional questions about history, politics and society.

Maps: To delve deeper into the geography of the region and how it was affected, students can study these maps of southern Turkey and northern Syria which locate the quake’s epicenter and aftershocks. What areas were hit hardest?

The Syrian civil war: The earthquake has cast a renewed spotlight on the conflict in Syria, which broke out in 2011 amid a popular uprising against the repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad, the country’s longtime dictator. Although the revolt started with peaceful demonstrations, it quickly descended into a bloody conflict between rebels and government forces.

The fighting has decreased since 2019, but peace talks overseen by the United States and Russia have been at a stalemate for years. That has left no end in sight for a humanitarian crisis that has lasted for more than a decade. More than 5.4 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries, including Turkey, according to the United Nations, and their fate is one of the most devastating elements of the unresolved conflict that many fear has been forgotten.

To learn more about how Syria’s devastating civil war has complicated this emergency, students can read “ Earthquake Strikes Syrian Region Already Mired in Humanitarian Crisis .” Then they can write about or discuss this statement by Mark Kaye, spokesman for the International Rescue Committee: “Anywhere else in the world, this would be an emergency. What we have in Syria is an emergency within an emergency.”

Turkey’s economy and politics: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been Turkey’s paramount politician for two decades, as prime minister from 2003 to 2014 and president since then. His first decade in power saw a drastic expansion of the economy that lifted millions of Turks out of poverty and expanded Turkish industry.

But in recent years, the economy has weakened. Annual inflation has hovered between 50 and 90 percent over the past year, causing hardship for many families and businesses. And Turkish opponents and Western officials have accused Mr. Erdogan of pushing the country toward autocracy, largely because of sweeping powers he has granted himself since a narrow majority of voters passed a referendum in 2017 that expanded the president’s role.

To learn more about the situation in Turkey before the earthquake struck, read “ As Tough Elections Loom in Turkey, Erdogan Is Spending for Victory .” Then consider how Turkey’s elections and economic crisis might affect — and be affected by — the devastation caused by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded there.

Learn about Turkey’s Anatolian fault system and the science of earthquakes.

What exactly is an earthquake? Why can they strike suddenly without warning? Why can they be so devastating?

The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria early Monday was measured at a magnitude 7.8, one of the strongest ever recorded in Turkey. Centered near Gaziantep in southern Turkey, the quake was felt as far away as Lebanon and Israel. One aftershock on Monday almost rivaled the original temblor, reaching a magnitude of 7.5.

To learn about the science of earthquakes, students might explore the Times interactive “ How Turkey’s Anatolian Fault System Causes Devastating Earthquakes ” to discover how Turkey’s two main fault zones make it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. By studying the graphics and maps, they can learn about essential terminology, facts and concepts like fault lines and tectonic plates.

Based on the article and other research, students might create an infographic explaining the science behind the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, or on earthquakes in general. Some questions they might illustrate: What is an earthquake? How are they measured? What are the different types of earthquakes and their causes? What is the Anatolian Fault System? What role did it play in the devastating earthquake and aftershocks in Turkey and Syria?

For more resources on the science of earthquakes beyond The Times:

Why the Earthquake in Turkey Was So Damaging and Deadly (Scientific American)

What Is an Earthquake? (National Geographic)

The Science of Earthquakes (U.S. Geological Survey)

Find out how to help.

The magnitude 7.8 quake and its aftershocks have unleashed a humanitarian disaster of unfathomable proportions. Emergency teams are working in freezing conditions to rescue thousands of survivors.

The United Nations announced that it is releasing a $25 million grant from its central emergency funds for relief operations in Turkey and Syria. The move is intended to kick-start a larger humanitarian funding appeal. The United States Agency for International Development said on the evening of Feb. 6 that it was deploying two specialized search and rescue teams as part of the official American response to the deadly earthquake, adding to the thousands of rescue workers trying to reach the devastated region.

How can you and your community help the rescue and recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria and the people affected by the deadly earthquake?

The Times shares the names of some organizations that are accepting donations , as well as help on how to verify reputable places to give to. Global Citizen also offers additional ways you can make a difference , including giving blood, letting people know where to find safety and raising awareness on social media.

Find more lesson plans and teaching ideas here.

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Here's what we know about what caused the Turkey earthquake

Joe Hernandez

Geoff Brumfiel

A man searches for people in the rubble of a destroyed building in Gaziantep, Turkey, on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Mustafa Karali/AP hide caption

A man searches for people in the rubble of a destroyed building in Gaziantep, Turkey, on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

The area of Turkey and Syria that has been hardest hit by Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks is known for having big quakes, but it had been decades since one this large last hit.

More than 5,000 people had died across the region.

Here's a look at what happened, geologically-speaking, and why it has caused so much damage.

Earthquakes are common in Turkey and Syria

The Arabian Peninsula is part of a tectonic plate that is making its way north into the Eurasian Plate, and the entire nation of Turkey is getting squeezed aside.

Middle East

Rescuers work for second day to find quake survivors as death toll surpasses 5,000.

"Arabia has slowly been moving north and has been colliding with Turkey, and Turkey is moving out of the way to the west," says Michael Steckler of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory .

That tectonic shift has been behind earthquakes for millennia in the area, including one that flattened the Syrian city of Aleppo in 1138. More recent quakes, such as the 1999 one that struck the city of İzmit, have killed many thousands.

A Turkish castle that withstood centuries of invasions is damaged in the earthquake

Monday's quake is believed to be the most powerful that Turkey has seen in more than 80 years.

This particular region was overdue for a big one

Most of the largest earthquakes in the past hundred years have been along the North Anatolian Fault.

But stress has been building along another major fault: the East Anatolian Fault. That fault has seen some big earthquakes in the past, says Patricia Martínez-Garzón, a seismologist at GFZ Potsdam, a research center in Germany. But more recently, there hasn't been as much activity.

"It was unusually quiet in the last century," she says.

The Picture Show

Photos: a devastating earthquake hits turkey and syria.

Some researchers had begun to suspect the fault was due for a major quake, according to Fatih Bulut, with the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. His research group and others had run computer models showing that this fault could have a magnitude 7.4 or greater earthquake.

"This is not a surprise for us," Bulut tells NPR.

But that doesn't mean that seismologists could say exactly when a big one would hit, according to Ian Main, a seismologist at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. The time between big quakes on a fault can vary quite a bit in unpredictable ways, he says. "They're not like buses, they don't come along on a timetable."

No, you cannot predict earthquakes, the USGS says

And not all the shaking has occurred on this one fault. The initial quake spilled over onto the Dead Sea Transform, another fault region where the Arabian, Anatolian and African plates converge. And a second, magnitude 7.5 quake took place hours later on a nearby fault that had been mapped but isn't part of the East Anatolian Fault.

"It's a pretty busy and complicated area with multiple fault systems," Steckler says.

This was a "strike-slip" earthquake

This earthquake occurred because "two pieces of the Earth are sliding horizontally past each other," Steckler says. It's the same kind of quake that occurs along the San Andreas fault in California.

In this case, the Arabian Plate is sliding past the Anatolian Plate.

That sliding motion also meant the shaking was spread out for many kilometers along the fault, says Bulut. The affected area "is quite large," he says. "Ten cities were structurally affected in Turkey."

Turkey has seismic codes to try to prevent buildings from collapsing, but Bulut says because this region has escaped a major quake for decades, it's possible that some older buildings are vulnerable. "Sometimes there are very old things, built before the rules existed," he says.

Steckler says he suspects that even some newer buildings may not have been up to code. "I know, certainly in Istanbul, there's a lot of illegal construction that goes on," he says.

More aftershocks are likely

The U.S. Geological Survey has already recorded more than a hundred aftershocks in the region, and experts expect they will continue for some time.

"That whole area, all the pieces of the Earth will slowly adjust and break and rupture and come to a new equilibrium," Steckler says.

• earthquake in Turkey and Syria

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• Published: 14 March 2023

Earthquake doublet in Turkey and Syria

• Luca Dal Zilio 1 &
• Jean-Paul Ampuero   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4827-7987 2  

Communications Earth & Environment volume  4 , Article number:  71 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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The human tragedy caused by the earthquake doublet on 6 February 2023 in Turkey and Syria is difficult to comprehend. While earthquake scientists are trying to understand this seismic event, its catastrophic impact highlights heightened risk in the entire region.

On 6 February 2023, a moment magnitude (Mw) 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The earthquake was the strongest in Turkey in more than 80 years. Approximately 9 h later, a Mw 7.6 earthquake occurred to the north-northeast from the first, in Kahramanmaraş Province. As of 6 March 2023, the earthquake doublet and the whole 2023 Kahramanmaraș Earthquake Sequence resulted in an official death toll of over 45,000 in Turkey, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), bringing the total toll including Syria to more than 52,000. This is the fifth-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century (Fig.  1 ) 1 . The two events were not a complete surprise—seismologists have warned of possible damaging earthquakes in Turkey for many decades. However, both quakes were larger than any previously recorded in this region. Earthquakes in 1893, 1872, 1822, and 1513, for instance, reached estimated magnitudes of 7.0–7.5 2 .

The toll of the Turkey and Syria quakes is one of the highest of any previous magnitude-7.8 event, and the fifth worst earthquake since 2000 (ref. 1 ).

The Anatolian Plate—where Turkey sits—is bounded by two major faults: the North Anatolian Fault Zone and the East Anatolian Fault Zone (Fig.  2a ). The 2023 Kahramanmaraș Earthquake Sequence occurred on the East Anatolian Fault Zone, a left-lateral strike-slip fault that divides the Anatolian Plate from the northern part of the Arabian Plate, where Syria is located (Fig.  2a ). Tectonic slip deficit across the East Anatolian Fault Zone accumulates at a rate of roughly 10 mm per year. Strain accumulates as the plates converge, and is intermittently released by occasional earthquakes of magnitude 7 or more.

a The inset map shows the large-scale geodynamic context indicating the two main strike-slip faults that delineate the Anatolian block: the East Anatolian Fault and the North Anatolian Fault. Known and mapped surface traces of the main faults are shown as dark grey lines. b First month of relocated seismicity as a function of magnitude and depth, including the main two events and aftershocks. Fault lines are indicated in red. c Source time functions of both events of the main two events are provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS) 7 . d Temporal evolution of seismicity in the month of February 2023. The yellow-to-purple colour scheme indicates the temporal evolution of seismicity. The two stars indicate the earthquake doublet. The seismic catalogue is provided by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey (AFAD).

Hundreds of thousands of people live within just a few kilometres of the East Anatolian Fault. This is not a coincidence. Biodiversity and natural resources such as water and fertile lands often concentrate near active fault zones 3 . As a result, human populations, modern infrastructure and economic centres are commonly concentrated there, and hence exposed to seismic hazards.

Here we note that the devastating quakes and subsequent aftershocks have highlighted—and on some sections of the faults increased—a well-known seismic risk in the entire region, as indicated in the European Earthquake Hazard Map 4 . If we are to prevent a repeat disaster, it is key to reduce vulnerability and build resilience.

Devastation beyond expectations

The two events in February exceeded expectations not only in magnitude but also in terms of the damage they caused. One reason lies with rupture length. Observations and pre-instrumental historical records have shown that earthquakes in East Anatolian Fault Zone exhibit a high variability in magnitude, involving moderate (Mw 6+) and sporadic large (Mw 7+) earthquakes, which typically unzip—partially or completely—different segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone separately 2 . However, the earthquake doublet on 6 February 2023 ruptured several of these segments in one go, producing larger slip than the deficit accumulated since the last large events. In hindsight, we know that such “superevents” might be part of a supercycle that transcends ordinary seismic cycles 5 . Supercycles are somewhat linked to the long-term fault memory, where the probability of a large earthquake reflects the accumulated strain rather than elapsed time 6 . Advances in understanding supercycles would be important for seismic hazard assessment, as they may help explain observed mismatches between deformation‐model‐based paleoseismology and those based on geodetic and other datasets.

Secondly, for the main quake, the rupture extended over about 300 km, with surface rupture displacements of up to 5 m (Fig.  2b ). The magnitude-7.6 aftershock occurred on two branches of the East Anatolian Fault Zone—the Surgu and Cardak faults. Although the aftershock resulted in a shorter rupture of about 100 km, it led to larger land displacements of up to 7–8 m. The source time functions of both events—describing the rate of energy release with time after earthquake initiation—is provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS) 7 and shown in Fig.  2c . For the mainshock, the apparent complexity of the source time function is identified by many peaks reflecting the interaction between different fault segments. On the other hand, the source time function of the magnitude-7.6 aftershock shows a relatively simpler rupture with a single major pulse of ~30 s duration (Fig.  2c ). Because the two earthquakes propagated all the way up to the surface, ground shaking was intensified in the areas surrounding the two faults. Comparing the two events also illustrates that larger earthquakes do not necessarily produce much stronger ground accelerations—which ultimately lead to damage; instead, they affect a wider area.

Another factor that made this earthquake particularly devastating was the size of the affected area, with two large earthquakes occurring in neighbouring fault zones. Surprisingly, the largest aftershock in the 2023 Kahramanmaraș Earthquake Sequence was relatively similar in magnitude to the main shock. Typically, the biggest aftershock is around 1.2 magnitudes smaller than the primary earthquake, a relationship known as Bath’s Law. However, as the two Kahramanmaraș events ruptured two different faults, the magnitude-7.6 quake can arguably be classified as a secondary main-shock on a different fault that was triggered by the first magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Hundreds of aftershocks of varying magnitudes continue to shake the devastated region (Fig.  2b, d ). They are damaging the unstable buildings and other infrastructure further, and hamper rescue and relief efforts at the same time.

Finally, according to early stress calculations, the increase in stress induced by the main-shock magnitude-7.8 rupture was largest close to the location of the subsequent magnitude-7.6 aftershock. The main magnitude-7.8 rupture might therefore have brought the magnitude-7.6. aftershock closer to failure, and provided the final kick to an already critically stressed fault 7 , 8 . Worryingly, as a result of those two events, the end zones of both events are now significantly stressed.

In light of these concerns, we suggest that risk-management practice urgently needs to be updated with a quantification of how stress transfer in the region has modified hazard probabilities. Likewise, we must work out by how much main-shocks have changed the fragility of buildings and increased their vulnerability to aftershocks.

The factors discussed above contributed to hazard and exposure. Risk and damage are, however, influenced by a third factor: vulnerability. In war-battered Syria, vulnerability was particularly high, but as it turns out, many buildings in Turkey, some of them relatively new, were not constructed to withstand a large earthquake. That the main shock occurred at 4.17 am local time, when most people are indoors and therefore in danger, added to the catastrophic outcome.

Learning from disaster

When a major disaster strikes, the focus in the first few days is on rescue efforts and on the tremendous loss, both of lives and property. But as emergency response turns to longer-term recovery, we must focus on how to avoid repetition.

The ultimate reason for the devastation was clear in the mangled ruins: unreinforced brick masonry, low-rise concrete frames, lift slab, and non-ductile concrete. Severe damage was amplified because most existing buildings are low-rise brick structures that are constructed very close to each other 9 . Such devastation is reflected in the saying: earthquakes do not kill people, buildings do.

In Syria—at war for more than 10 years now—building codes were not a priority, and structures were built and rebuilt with whatever was available. In Turkey, vulnerabilities persist despite the existence of an appropriate earthquake-resistant building code. Now aid must focus on the priorities of local people. Identifying and reducing vulnerability and building long-term resilience is key to a safer future. In order to increase earthquake resilience, building codes need to both exist and be followed. Yet depending on social and political circumstances that may be difficult. Nevertheless, a poorly regulated construction industry in a region with known seismic risk is the real killer 10 . Part of the solution might be to develop cost-effective tools and consumer awareness campaigns that empower citizens to verify the safety of the properties they consider buying or renting.

The Kahramanmaraș Earthquake Sequence is the latest of a long list of examples where fault systems have produced cascade of earthquakes over periods of hours to decades. We can expect elevated seismicity in the affected region for years, even decades.

Historical and recent seismicity on the East Anatolian Fault is not so different from the activity on the North Anatolian fault, the site of several large earthquakes between 1939 and 1967. Over the last century, the Turkish part of the North Anatolian Fault has produced a remarkable sequence of large earthquakes. These events have left an earthquake gap south of Istanbul beneath the Marmara Sea, a gap that has not been filled in 250 years 11 . We do not know when this fault will rupture, but the risk is rising.

Another region of concern surrounds the Dead Sea Fault, the segment of the East Anatolian Fault south of the February 2023 subsurface rupture. The long historical record of earthquakes indicates that the Dead Sea Fault hosted several earthquakes of magnitude above 7 along its full length, including the 859 AD earthquake in the Sergilla segment, the 1157 AD earthquake in the Apamea segment, and the 1408 AD earthquake in the Lattakia segment 12 . The seismic behaviour of the northern segment of the Dead Sea Fault appears to involve long periods of seismic quiescence abruptly interrupted by infrequent, large earthquakes. The northern segment of the Dead Sea Fault calls for special attention, as this segment is a well-identified seismic gap with no large earthquake for over 850 years 12 . With an average slip rate of 7.0 mm per year, this fault would have accumulated a slip deficit of almost 6 m. As a result, we argue that this long seismic quiescence possibly represents a high level of seismic hazard in Syria and Lebanon.

To conclude, this is time for a rapid re-appraisal of earthquake risk in the region. It will then be up to policymakers to work on enforcing building and seismic codes, use of quality material and skilled workmanship as well as building insurance.

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Acknowledgements

This contribution was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant “Fault Activation and Earthquake Rupture” (FEAR) (No 856559), the EU project “A Digital Twin for Geophysical Extremes” (DT-GEO) (No 101058129), and by the French government through the UCA-JEDI Investments in the Future project (ANR-15-IDEX-01) managed by the National Research Agency (ANR). We are grateful to L. Mizrahi for providing us with the seismicity catalogue. We gratefully acknowledge T. Gunatilake, J. Ye, and the Senior Editor Joe Aslin for comments and suggestions. The seismicity catalogue is provided by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) – Turkish Earthquake Data Center System Regulation ( https://deprem.afad.gov.tr/event-catalog ). The source time functions of the M7.8 and M7.6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence shown in Fig.  2 are provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS) ( https://usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/earthquakes ).

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Dal Zilio, L., Ampuero, JP. Earthquake doublet in Turkey and Syria. Commun Earth Environ 4 , 71 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00747-z

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This chapter examines how technology has been used in relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes that struck southeast Turkey and northern and western Syria in February 2023. With over 50,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries, the earthquakes presented one of the worst disasters of the century, requiring significant aid and relief efforts. Examples of AI and social media use cases in accelerating and amplifying rescue and humanitarian relief efforts are presented. Emerging technologies like robots, virtual and augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology have the potential to revolutionize disaster relief work in the years to come. The chapter also explores the potential for new technologies, such as the metaverse, to simulate earthquakes and train people on how to respond to them. The conclusion summarizes the importance of technology in disaster relief efforts and highlights the need to continue investing in, testing, and scaling up technological solutions to ensure better preparedness for future disasters.

• disaster management
• emerging technologies
• relief efforts
• Kahramanmaraş earthquake
• search and rescue

Author Information

Selcen ozturkcan *.

• Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
• Sabancı University, Istanbul, Turkey

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected], [email protected]

1. Introduction

In early February 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck southeast Turkey and northern and western Syria, causing unprecedented devastation [ 1 , 2 ]. Relief efforts were still underway at the time of this research, and official registries indicated that the quakes killed over 50,000 people and injured at least another 100,000 [ 3 ]. As one of the worst disasters of the century, relief efforts relied heavily on digital and emerging technologies such as open-source websites, while artificial intelligence, social media, and blockchain technology significantly aided relief efforts. Social media has been used to share vital information and organize aid, with trapped individuals tweeting messages with their location. Unfortunately, some people resorted to communicating their final words to their loved ones, especially when the quake-hit region experienced sub-zero temperatures, resulting in hypothermia among survivors trapped beneath the rubble. Both technological and traditional methods of assistance were used in front-line relief efforts. Disaster management has become increasingly reliant on technology, including disaster response, assessment, and management. Additional apps are likely to be developed as specific needs arise, and blockchain technology will aid in the distribution of monetary aid. AI-powered chatbots can quickly and accurately answer people’s questions about relief efforts and assistance programs, and AI could be used to monitor earthquake-prone areas and predict future incidents. The metaverse will be used to simulate earthquakes and train people how to respond to them. Technology is increasingly playing a role in disaster relief efforts, accelerating and amplifying rescue and humanitarian relief efforts and, as a result, saving lives. Technology can help communities become more resilient to future disasters by allowing aid organizations and agencies to invest in, test, and scale up solutions, ensuring that those in charge of relief efforts are better prepared to deal with future disasters. Technology has proven to improve survival chances in a world where natural disasters are all too common. The author dedicates this research to earthquake victims in order to spark a discussion about how to better prepare for future similar relief efforts.

The devastating double earthquake that struck the Kahramanmaraş region on February 6, 2023, exemplifies how technology is increasingly assisting in short-, medium-, and long-term relief efforts in disaster-affected areas. The level of devastation caused by the two earthquakes, which registered 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, is difficult to comprehend. It is estimated that 10 provinces will be affected, with the destruction spanning more than 50,000 square kilometers. The World Health Organization declared it the worst disaster to strike its 53-country Europe region in a century on February 15. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, referred to the event as an “ epic natural disaster ” as he issued the first of two urgent appeals for those affected.

The chapter is organized with a review of currently used technologies followed by a discussion of potential technologies that could be used. The conclusion includes final remarks and a summary.

2. AI/Emerging tech disaster relief

In recent years, technology has played an increasingly important role in disaster management, including the response to disasters, the assessment of disasters, and the management of disasters. The application of technology in the field of disaster management has proven to be of critical importance in terms of accelerating and amplifying rescue and humanitarian relief efforts, saving lives, and making affected communities more resilient to the occurrence of future disasters.

For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) has been put to use to keep an eye on areas that are prone to earthquakes, forecast the occurrence of future disasters, and provide people with prompt and accurate answers to their questions regarding relief efforts and assistance programs. Chatbots that are powered by AI are especially helpful in circumstances where there is a high volume of people asking for information. This enables human resources to be reallocated to other activities that are equally important.

Platforms for social media have also proven to be useful tools in disaster management, particularly in regions where traditional communication channels have been disrupted. This is especially true in the case of areas that have been hit particularly hard. The use of social media has allowed for the dissemination of vital information as well as the organization of support, with people who are buried under the rubble tweeting messages that include their location.

In addition, the use of websites that are powered by open-source software has made it simpler for organizations that provide humanitarian aid to collaborate on their efforts and disseminate information to the general public. Open-source websites offer a platform for the development of new applications that are tailored to meet the requirements of a particular disaster. This can be especially helpful in circumstances in which time is of the essence.

In addition, developing technologies such as the metaverse can be used to simulate the effects of earthquakes and teach people how to respond appropriately in the event of one. The metaverse can also be used to create virtual relief centers, which are places where communities that have been affected by a disaster can go to receive essential services like food, shelter, and medical care.

In general, technology has evolved into a tool that is essential for disaster management, and it is without a doubt that continued investment and the development of innovative technologies will continue to play an essential part in the process of preventing loss of life and mitigating the effects of natural disasters.

It’s difficult to imagine anything going wrong that would be worse for the millions of people affected by the recent earthquakes [ 4 ]. On the other hand, digital technologies and other emerging technologies have greatly aided relief efforts. Since the early 2000s, emerging technologies have been used in disaster relief operations and have since become an essential component of these operations. One of the things that distinguishes the Turkish-Syrian relief efforts is the scale of their use of open-source websites, artificial intelligence, and social media. The following sections will present a case study of the technologies that were adapted for use in relief efforts following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

2.1 Social media

The coordination of support efforts and the dissemination of vital information through social media platforms were central to the rescue operations. In some instances, people who were buried under debris tweeted their location and shared these tweets with users with large followings who demanded and hoped to be heard by rescuers. Using streamed social media data, volunteer teams have verified the accuracy of information that rescue operations can use to save lives. Unfortunately, not all of those who were able to send information from beneath the rubble were fortunate enough to receive aid, and some chose to express their profoundly tragic farewells via social media platforms. Even those who were not directly injured by the collapsing buildings during the earthquakes perished from hypothermia brought on by the subzero temperatures that followed. Those who remained trapped under the rubble for days while rescuers struggled to determine where to extend a helping hand in the vast affected area chose to either scream for help or say their final goodbyes.

In recent years, social media has proven to be an invaluable resource for disaster management [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. During a crisis, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are increasingly being used to disseminate critical information and coordinate relief efforts. Social media, in addition to facilitating communication between victims and rescuers, aids in the verification of information. Volunteer teams can use live social media data to confirm victim location and status, which can then be used to direct rescue efforts.

However, it was not always with the best intentions that social media was resorted to in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes. Scammers took advantage of social media platforms for their benefit, as a BBC investigation revealed [ 9 ]. Accordingly, scammers circulated appeals for donations to fake charities on Twitter and TikTok, using unrelated imagery and links to fraudulent PayPal accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. Other experts reported similar scams on Telegram and Facebook, too [ 10 ]. Consequently, TikTok and PayPal released statements expressing their condolences and commitment to preventing fraudulent activities on their platforms. TikTok actively reminded its viewers to report suspicious behavior while PayPal diligently scrutinized and banned accounts. The aim was to ensure donations went to their intended causes and kept people safe during the challenging period.

With its ability to facilitate communication, coordinate relief efforts, and verify information, social media has become an indispensable tool for disaster management. During these times, however, it is critical to remain vigilant against fraudulent activity and social media misuse.

2.2 High-pitched whistle application

Other technologies, in addition to social media platforms, were used in disaster relief efforts. One notable technological advancement was the use of high-pitched whistle applications designed for stranded individuals. Many people were trapped under rubble in the aftermath of the earthquakes, unable to communicate with rescuers. The whistle apps enabled these people to use their mobile devices to signal for help even when there was no reception.

Unfortunately, the earthquake-affected region also experienced connectivity issues due to extensive infrastructure damage. As a result, those with cell phones could not always send text messages, but they could use the sound-making feature to communicate with anyone who was near the rubble. This also conserved the survivors’ limited energy, as yelling for assistance for an extended period of time could be quite draining.

Several whistle applications were released free of charge in response to the disaster. To provide context, one such app developed by Dmitsoft had more than 5 million downloads [ 11 ]. These apps were essential in assisting people in requesting assistance when they were unable to communicate verbally or via text message due to the circumstances in which they found themselves. Rescue workers were also able to locate survivors more quickly thanks to the use of these apps, which ultimately had the potential to save lives.

2.3 WhatsApp helpline and bot

During the rescue and relief operations, WhatsApp helplines played a vital role in disseminating information about relief efforts, rescue operations, and volunteering opportunities. Local non-profit organizations, such as the AKUT Search and Rescue Association of Turkey and the AHBAP, established WhatsApp helplines to offer assistance and support to those affected by the earthquake [ 12 ]. For instance, AHBAP released a statement that read, “ If you have an urgent need in earthquake areas or want to support those affected by the disaster, write ‘Hello’ to our WhatsApp support line ” [ 13 ]. After sending a message with “Hello,” the individual would receive two options: asking for help or providing support.

To prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure an accurate information, Meta partnered with AKUT to establish a WhatsApp helpline to provide assistance and information to individuals affected by the disaster [ 14 ]. The helpline allowed individuals to message a designated number on WhatsApp with the word “Hello” and receive relevant information.

In addition to the WhatsApp helplines, several organizations, and individuals released WhatsApp bots to support during the disaster. The Deprembot [ 15 ], for instance, was one such bot that allowed people to easily reach the nearest aid points by simply sending their location. By leveraging location-based services, such bots could help people in need and streamline relief efforts, allowing rescue teams to quickly identify those in need of assistance and reach them in the shortest possible time. Moreover, such bots could help reduce the number of unnecessary calls or messages, freeing up lines of communication for urgent requests and ensuring the information was provided to the right channels. As technology continued to evolve, these bots could be further improved, potentially integrating with other emergency response systems to provide even more comprehensive support during natural disasters.

WhatsApp helplines and bots provide a quick and accessible way for individuals to receive assistance and information during a disaster [ 16 , 17 ]. They were particularly helpful for those who may not have had access to other means of communication or who were struggling to navigate the complex and rapidly changing relief efforts.

2.4 Cryptocurrency

In the aftermath of the disaster, the cryptocurrency community came together to donate millions of dollars in crypto assets to support relief efforts. On Twitter, Haluk Levent, the founder of AHBAP and a local artist, stated that there was a widespread desire among people globally to contribute to charitable causes using cryptocurrency. The local non-profit organization, AHBAP, received over $3 million in donations, as reported by blockchain analytics firm, Chainalysis, which estimates that the total crypto donations sent to Turkey and Syria exceeded $5 million. Cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, pledged $5 million in donated funds, and the total value of cryptocurrency tokens pledged by various crypto firms was found to exceed $10 million by blockchain analytics firm, Elliptic [ 18 ].

Despite the admirable intention of crypto advocates to offer financial relief in the aftermath of natural disasters, questions have been raised about the real-world utility of crypto assets. Critics argued that although cryptocurrencies enabled near-real-time transactions, they failed to provide practical financial solutions in daily life. For example, locals in Turkey still needed to convert their crypto assets into Turkish lira and withdrew the converted fiat to their bank accounts, which could be a cumbersome process in times of crisis. Furthermore, some traders reported difficulties in releasing funds from popular exchanges, highlighting the need for more efficient and reliable financial mechanisms in emergency situations.

In addition to these solutions based on blockchain, a number of other initiatives have emerged to harness the power of technology in order to support efforts being made to aid victims of natural disasters. For instance, a number of different crowdsourcing campaigns to raise money for victims of natural disasters have been launched on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. In addition, some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations in the area have created websites and mobile applications to disseminate information regarding available resources, shelter locations, and volunteer opportunities.

2.5 Open-source hubs

In order to facilitate quicker loading times, a large number of open-source crisis assistance websites and platforms have been developed and created using fundamental HTML. A portion of the funding for the beginning stages of these projects came from crowdsourcing. These platforms included heatmaps for rescue services, which used information gathered from calls for help to identify the locations of survivors buried in rubble; databases of blood donors; links to providers of temporary accommodation, food, and clothing; lists of people known to be trapped in the rubble or in need of urgent medical or humanitarian assistance (which were generated using AI to sort through scattered data); and apps that matched volunteers with those in need of help.

Aside from the previously mentioned relief efforts, several open-source hubs and platforms were used to aid in crisis response. The platforms created served as crisis mapping tools, tracking and sharing information about rescue efforts in real time. It enabled citizens to report trapped individuals, damaged infrastructure, and other critical information via various channels such as SMS, email, and social media. The collected data was then visualized on a map, allowing rescue teams to identify areas that required immediate assistance. During the disaster response, another useful platform was ihtiyacharitasi.org (translates as the need map), which helped manage donations, volunteers, and aid requests.

Furthermore, the open-source community was instrumental in developing tools and resources to aid in disaster relief efforts. Several 3D printing communities, for example, collaborated to create open-source designs for prosthetics and medical equipment that could be produced quickly and cheaply. These initiatives show the power of open-source collaboration in responding to crises and developing innovative solutions to meet urgent needs.

2.6 Satellite imagery

Satellite imagery remained one of the most valuable resources used to assist organizations working in disaster areas [ 19 , 20 ]. The imagery enabled relief organizations to assess the state of infrastructure and pinpoint the hardest-hit areas, which is critical for ensuring the efficient delivery of aid [ 21 ]. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, several resources provided free access to all their technologies to aid organizations operating in the disaster zone. Similar to past disasters, satellite imagery was utilized to offer a broader perspective of the affected area.

The xView2 program, an open-source project sponsored and developed by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute in 2019, collaborated with various research partners, including Microsoft and the University of California, Berkeley. By using machine-learning algorithms in conjunction with satellite imagery, xView2 could identify building and infrastructure damage in the disaster area and categorize its severity more quickly than current methods. This enabled first responders and recovery experts to quickly assess the situation and coordinate reconstruction efforts over time, as seen in Turkey, where the platform was used by multiple organizations in response to the earthquake. Despite its potential, the technology is not without challenges. The model heavily relies on satellite imagery, which is only available during the day and when there is no cloud cover. Additionally, satellite images have an aerial perspective, which makes it difficult to identify damage on the sides of buildings. Furthermore, getting on-the-ground organizations to trust and use an AI solution has been challenging, as traditional first responders are not always familiar with new technology. Nevertheless, xView2 has proved to be an improvement over traditional disaster assessment systems, allowing organizations to create a shared map of the affected area in minutes, coordinate and prioritize responses, and ultimately save time and lives [ 22 ].

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, were used to aid in search and rescue operations. These drones captured footage of the affected areas and were outfitted with sensors to assess the extent of building damage. One such sensor detected high levels of methane, which assisted in identifying buildings at risk of explosion due to faulty gas supplies [ 23 ]. As part of their humanitarian efforts, several drone manufacturers and the Spanish government sent drones to Turkey.

Drones were used to deliver essential supplies to hard-to-reach areas, in addition to assisting in search and rescue operations. Drones have gained popularity in disaster relief operations in recent years due to their ability to bypass roadblocks and provide a bird’s eye view of the affected area [ 24 , 25 ]. Drones can deliver small items like medicine, food, and communication equipment to those in need, reducing the risk to first responders and speeding up aid delivery. Drones were used to deliver essential supplies to people trapped in the rubble following the earthquake in Turkey, making it possible to quickly provide assistance to those in need in hard-to-reach areas. Drone delivery in disaster zones, on the other hand, can be difficult because it requires careful coordination with other relief efforts on the ground to avoid collisions and disruptions to rescue operations. Despite these obstacles, the use of drones in disaster relief has demonstrated enormous potential for providing critical assistance to those in need.

2.8 Microwave radar

NASA’s FINDER technology was used to detect any human heartbeats trapped under debris, which uses microwave radar sensors to remotely detect heartbeats and respiration in order to find survivors in the rubble [ 26 ]. Shortly after the earthquake, the technology was transported to the disaster area. It was developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and was also used following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Its ability to distinguish between human and machine motion - and even between humans and animals - proved critical in the chaotic and urgent environment of search and rescue [ 27 , 28 ]. Its prototypes were built inside a medium-sized Pelican case, which was tough enough to transport the equipment during natural disasters [ 29 ].

3. Future of disaster relief technology

The devastation caused by earthquakes in Southeast Turkey as well as northern and western Syria highlighted the importance of investing in disaster relief technology. While significant progress has been made in the use of emerging technologies to aid in relief efforts, more can be done to improve the efficiency and efficacy of these technologies in disaster relief operations. The subsections that follow outline some ideas for how disaster relief technology might evolve in the future.

3.1 Virtual and augmented reality

Virtual and augmented reality technologies can be used to simulate disaster scenarios, allowing those who may be involved in relief operations to receive training and education [ 30 ]. Responders can practice their skills and improve their response times by creating a virtual environment that simulates disaster conditions. Virtual reality can also be used to create building and other structure simulations, allowing responders to practice rescue operations in a safe and controlled environment.

In addition to training and education, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies can be used to improve relief efforts in a variety of ways [ 31 ]. One such method is to use VR/AR simulations to aid in disaster preparedness planning, which may serve the call for building resilient communities [ 32 ]. These simulations can assist disaster planners and responders in better understanding the layout of the disaster area and developing more effective response strategies [ 33 ].

Another potential application for VR/AR is to aid in remote disaster assessments. Responders and aid organizations can use virtual reality/augmented reality headsets to assess the damage and needs of disaster-stricken areas without physically being present. This can save valuable time and resources, especially if traveling to the disaster area is difficult or dangerous.

Furthermore, virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to improve communication between responders and victims. Responders can better understand the situation on the ground and communicate with victims to provide aid and support using VR/AR. Responders, for example, can use AR to overlay information such as safe and unsafe areas, directions to safety, or hazards to avoid onto their view of the disaster area. This data can then be shared with victims and relief organizations to help coordinate relief efforts.

Overall, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have enormous potential to aid in disaster response and relief efforts. As these technologies advance, they are likely to become an increasingly important tool in disaster preparedness and response efforts.

3.2 Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected devices that can communicate and exchange data with one another. IoT devices can be used to monitor and collect data from disaster-affected areas in the context of disaster relief. Sensors, for example, can be installed in buildings to detect structural damage and assess the risk of collapse [ 34 , 35 ]. IoT devices can also be used to track the movement of people and supplies, providing responders with real-time data that can be used to more effectively coordinate relief efforts.

In addition to its use in disaster relief efforts, IoT has a plethora of other applications. For example, IoT devices such as smart helmets or wearable sensors can be used to monitor first responders’ vital signs and location in real time, ensuring their safety during rescue operations. Additionally, IoT-enabled drones can be deployed to capture footage and collect data from difficult-to-reach areas that human responders may find too dangerous to access.

Furthermore, during disaster relief operations, IoT can aid in logistics and supply chain management. IoT sensors and devices can be used to monitor and track the movement of supplies and equipment to ensure that they arrive on time. This can help to avoid delays and ensure that resources are used efficiently.

The development of early warning systems is another potential application of IoT in disaster relief. Data can be collected and analyzed to predict and detect potential disasters by deploying IoT sensors in high-risk areas such as flood-prone areas or earthquake zones [ 36 ]. This can allow for valuable preparation and evacuation time, potentially saving lives.

However, while IoT technology has many advantages for disaster relief efforts, it also has some drawbacks. Massive amounts of data generated by IoT devices, for example, must be analyzed and processed in real-time, which can be a daunting task. Furthermore, ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive data collected by IoT devices can be difficult, especially during disasters when access to secure networks may be limited. Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits of IoT in disaster relief make it an exciting area for further research and development.

3.3 Blockchain technology

The use of blockchain technology can improve the transparency and accountability of relief efforts [ 37 ]. Blockchain technology can ensure that funds are distributed fairly and that aid reaches those who need it most by creating a decentralized ledger that records all transactions related to relief efforts. By creating smart contracts that automatically release funds to specific organizations or individuals, blockchain technology can also be used to facilitate the distribution of aid [ 38 ].

Blockchain technology is increasingly being used in disaster relief efforts to aid in the distribution of monetary aid. Blockchain, the technology underlying cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, is a decentralized ledger that can be used to securely and transparently track financial transactions. Following the earthquake, organizations and individuals all over the world donated money to aid relief efforts. Many people, however, were concerned that their contributions would not reach those in need or would be subject to fraud or corruption. Blockchain technology can assist in addressing these concerns by providing a secure and transparent method of tracking donations and ensuring that they reach their intended recipients. Blockchain-based systems can also assist organizations in more efficiently distributing funds by eliminating intermediaries and lowering transaction costs. The platform could aim to provide donors with a transparent and secure way to contribute to disaster relief efforts, ensuring that funds are allocated effectively and efficiently. It can use smart contracts, which are self-executing computer programs that automatically carry out the terms of a contract, to track donations and ensure that they are used for their intended purpose, to provide donors with real-time updates on the impact of their donations, and, eventually, to track the progress of relief efforts.

Aside from cryptocurrency donations, the blockchain technology underlying these digital assets can also provide practical disaster management solutions. For example, blockchain-based platforms can aid in the establishment of a secure and transparent supply chain of relief goods from donors to recipients. Using blockchain, all parties involved can track the movement of goods, ensuring that they reach their intended recipients and lowering the risk of corruption or fraud.

Furthermore, blockchain technology can be used to build decentralized crowdfunding platforms that can raise funds for disaster relief efforts without the use of intermediaries. Donors can contribute directly to the cause through these platforms, reducing transaction fees and ensuring that donations reach their intended recipients. This approach may also facilitate global giving, as donors from all over the world will be able to contribute to the relief effort without having to worry about currency conversion or international transfer fees.

3.4 AI-powered chatbots

AI-powered chatbots can be used in disaster relief efforts to quickly and accurately answer people’s questions about relief efforts and assistance programs [ 39 ]. Chatbots are computer programs that use artificial intelligence to simulate human-to-human conversations. People often have many questions about relief efforts and assistance programs in the aftermath of a disaster, but it can be difficult for organizations to provide timely and accurate answers to all of them. Chatbots can help fill this void by providing quick and accurate responses to frequently asked questions. In addition to providing real-time information on relief efforts and assistance programs, it can also provide affected individuals with quick and easy access to information. In exchange, the chatbot could collect data on the needs of affected individuals. This data-driven information could then be used to better tailor relief efforts.

3.5 Rescue robots

Rescue robots could be used in earthquake-prone cities [ 40 ]. During disaster relief operations, robots can perform a variety of tasks such as search and rescue, building inspection, and debris removal [ 41 ]. There are numerous rescue robots available, each with its own set of capabilities while some may face difficulties in urban environments due to uneven terrain, unstable structures, and debris. Regardless, rescue robots can play an important role in search and rescue operations, especially when human rescuers are unable to enter damaged buildings safely.

A comprehensive overview of the types of robots currently available for disaster relief efforts, including ground-based robots, aerial drones, and snake-like robots, is presented by Li et al. [ 41 ]. Ground-based robots, for example, could navigate through rubble and debris to find and rescue survivors, whereas aerial drones could provide a bird’s-eye view of the disaster area and locate survivors from above. With their ability to slither through tight spaces, snake-like robots could be especially useful for searching through collapsed buildings and other confined spaces. Using rescue robots in disaster relief efforts is fraught with difficulties and constraints, owing to the need for power and communication infrastructure, as well as the limitations of current robot technologies. While rescue robots may be useful in disaster relief efforts, they should not be viewed as a replacement for human rescuers.

Overall, the use of rescue robots in disaster relief efforts has the potential to significantly improve response times and the likelihood of rescuing survivors. However, more research and development are required to improve the capabilities and effectiveness of rescue robots.

4. Conclusion

Early in the month of February 2023, a series of earthquakes that struck Southeast Turkey and northern and western Syria served as a harrowing reminder of the devastation that can be caused by natural disasters. The subsequent relief efforts, on the other hand, served to highlight the growing importance of technology in relief operations following natural disasters. Emerging technologies, such as social media, satellite imagery powered by artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies, have all played an important part in rescue and humanitarian relief efforts, helping to save lives and alleviate the suffering of those who have been impacted. This chapter provided a summary of the technologies that were utilized and elaborated on the other technologies that could be useful in disaster relief efforts.

Even though there is still more work that can be done to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of disaster relief technology, the progress that has been made up to this point is encouraging. Emerging technologies like robots, virtual and augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology have the potential to revolutionize disaster relief work in the years to come. This bodes well for the future of disaster relief technology. We can ensure that communities all over the world are better prepared to deal with future disasters and that relief efforts are more effective in saving lives and reducing suffering if we invest in these technologies and continue to innovate. This can be accomplished by continuing to innovate and also by continuing to invest.

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• 32. Karanci A, Aksit B. Building disaster-resistant communities: lessons learned from past earthquakes in Turkey and suggestions for the future. International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters. 2023; 18 :403-416
• 33. Yamashita N, Taki H, Soga M, editors. A learning support environment for earthquake disaster with a simulation of furniture falling by mobile AR. In: 2012 International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET). IEEE; 2012
• 34. Alphonsa A, Ravi G, editors. Earthquake early warning system by IOT using Wireless sensor networks. In: 2016 International Conference on Wireless Communications, Signal Processing and Networking (WiSPNET). IEEE; 2016
• 35. Zambrano AM, Perez I, Palau C, Esteve M. Technologies of internet of things applied to an earthquake early warning system. Future Generation Computer Systems. 2017; 75 :206-215
• 36. Babu V, Rajan V, editors. Flood and earthquake detection and rescue using IoT technology. In: 2019 International Conference on Communication and Electronics Systems (ICCES). IEEE; 2019
• 37. Farooq MS, Khan M, Abid A. A framework to make charity collection transparent and auditable using blockchain technology. Computers & Electrical Engineering. 2020; 83 :106588
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• 39. Ahmady SE, Uchida O, editors. Telegram-based chatbot application for foreign people in Japan to share disaster-related information in real-time. In: 2020 5th International Conference on Computer and Communication Systems (ICCCS). IEEE; 2020
• 40. G-JM K, Pirri F, Gianni M, Papadakis P, Pizzoli M, Sinha A, et al., editors. Rescue robots at earthquake-hit Mirandola, Italy: A field report. In: 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics (SSRR). IEEE; 2012
• 41. Li F, Hou S, Bu C, Qu B. Rescue robots for the urban earthquake environment. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 2023; 17 :e181

© 2023 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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The 2023 Turkey Syria Earthquake

We’re collating resources to support teachers covering the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey. First and foremost, we’ve shared links to anyone who can support NGOs working to help those affected. Additionally, there are links to support teachers in sensitively delivering events such as the earthquake, including advice on supporting the young people affected.

Earthquake Relief

There are many aid agencies providing support to those affected by the recent earthquake that has affected tens of thousands of people in Turkey and Syria, including:

• DEC Turkey Syria Earthquake Appeal
• Save the Children Turkey Syria Earthquake Appeal
• British Red Cross Earthquake Appeal

Please email us if you are aware of other aid agencies providing support or can provide a link for donations to aid agencies.

Below we have included links to websites that support teaching events such as this in a considered way. After all, many children from Turkey and Siria are being educated in schools outside of the country and may be in one of your classes.

Primrose Schools

Blog – Teachers Pay Teachers

Supporting young people during the initial response to a disaster

Warning – Some of these videos contain footage you may find distressing.

Sky News – Devastation from Above – An aerial view of the Turkey-Syria earthquake

BBC News Turkey – Syria Earthquake Home

Turkey earthquake: Screaming, shaking… how it felt when the quake hit

Turkey earthquake: Where did it hit and why was it so deadly?

Turkey earthquake: Why did so many buildings collapse?

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Fire at Iskenderun port extinguished

Syria: Rescuers search for earthquake survivors in Harem

Turkey earthquake fault lines mapped from space – BBC News

Turkey-Syria earthquake: UK aid appeal raises more than £50m

Turkey quake: President Erdogan accepts some problems with response

Turkey earthquake rescue efforts disrupted by security concerns

Turkey earthquake: Roman-era castle destroyed by quake

Turkey earthquake: Hope as foreign help arrives in quake-ravaged Antakya

US pledges $85m for Turkey-Syria earthquake relief

The Economist (requires a free account)

What made the earthquake in Turkey and Syria so deadly?

The Guardian

The Guardian – Turkey – Syria Earthquake Home

Turkey and Syria earthquake devastation – in pictures

Tuesday briefing: Why the Turkey and Syria earthquake was a catastrophe

Before and after satellite images show scale of earthquake destruction in Turkey

Turkey earthquake death toll prompts questions over building standards

Istanbul stock market shuts to prevent selloff after earthquake

Sky News Turkey – Syria Earthquake Home

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Which countries have offered to help and what aid are they providing?

Turkey earthquake: Strong, shallow and beneath a highly-populated area – this is the worst kind of quake

Turkey and Syria earthquake: Why have so many been killed, and will it be difficult to get aid to the right places?

BBC Science in Action – Turkey-Syria Earthquake

Newly available Maxar satellite imagery shows several hundred meters long surface rupture with horizontal displacements up to 4m near Nurdağı, Gaziantep province, Turkey. pic.twitter.com/3JVZTTHrk1 — Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) February 9, 2023

The M7.8 earthquake in Türkiye occurred on a strike-slip fault. During this type of faulting event one side of the fault slides horizontally past the other. Things that cross the fault like fences, roads or train tracks are good markers for showing the way the fault moved. https://t.co/uAxHsDnf59 pic.twitter.com/XreVABZnl1 — Wendy Bohon, PhD 🌏 (@DrWendyRocks) February 8, 2023

Why did the earthquakes in Turkey happen? pic.twitter.com/eA91LNZpM0 — Wendy Bohon, PhD 🌏 (@DrWendyRocks) February 7, 2023

An unfolding thread helping us understand the nature of the devastating earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/mNj6IGtBMq — Alistair Hamill MCCT (@lcgeography) February 6, 2023

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Case study: The 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake

Case study: The effects of climate change in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam

The 2023 türkiye– syria earthquake.

As a GCSE geographer you will learn about a range of natural hazards, their causes, impacts and how we can prepare for and respond to them. This article provides a case study of the massive and tragic earthquake that occurred in Türkiye, and the bordering country of Syria, in February 2023.

• Volume 35, 2023/ 2024
• Tectonic hazards
• Natural disasters
• (Global) Physical Geography

Michelle Minton

Earthquakes are not uncommon in this part of the world. However, the one that happened on 6 February 2023 had a magnitude of 7.8 and was the deadliest and strongest recorded in Türkiye since 1939, and was the world’s deadliest since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

The earthquake’s epicentre was 34 km west of the city of Gaziantep in southern Türkiye, near the northern border of Syria (see back page). Türkiye is vulnerable to earthquakes as it sits on the Anatolian plate, between the large tectonic plates of Eurasia, Arabia and Africa. Within the Anatolian tectonic plate there are two major faults — the North Anatolian fault and the East Anatolian fault, and it is on the latter that the 2023 earthquake occurred.

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Shattered Relief: A 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey and Syria

Photo: ZEIN AL RIFAI/AFP via Getty Images

Critical Questions by Erol Yayboke

Published February 7, 2023

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria in the early hours of the morning on February 6 with the large southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep at its epicenter. This was followed less than 10 hours later by a 7.5-magnitude aftershock slightly to Gaziantep’s north. In addition to its impact on Turkey and Turkish citizens, the twin quakes hit the heart of a border area home to millions of Syrian refugees at a time of great economic and geostrategic uncertainty in Turkey and across the region.

Q1: What are initial damage estimates?

A1: The reverberations from the earthquakes were felt in Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan, though initial estimates suggest the greatest devastation occurred in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. Home to over 2 million people, Gaziantep is the sixth largest city in Turkey. Within 24 hours, an estimated 5,600 buildings were destroyed in Turkey and over 5,000 people had died in Turkey and Syria, though these figures are likely to grow in the coming days.

Q2: What are some of the biggest concerns?

A2: The biggest concerns are and will continue to be the loss of life and providing humanitarian relief to survivors. But the already high death toll could continue to grow for at least four reasons.

First, since the initial earthquake struck when many people were still at home, most were likely to have been in the thousands of buildings that were destroyed. Search and rescue operations will continue for the next few days, after which efforts will shift to recovery and ultimately to rebuilding damaged and destroyed infrastructure. The physical and psychological human impact will be far greater and longer lasting. In the coming days and weeks and months, international donors and NGOs will need to draw on lessons from other rapid onset disasters (e.g., tsunami and hurricane relief) which share similar destructive qualities. These lessons include the critical need to coordinate assistance, to build local resilience, and to draw from and strengthen local response structures.

Second, this happened in the middle of winter in a region where temperatures routinely dip below freezing this time of year. Snow blanketed the region over the weekend and cold rain fell over rubble on Monday afternoon; temperatures dropped to near freezing levels in the evening hours. Though search and rescue and humanitarian relief teams have been deployed from 45 countries around the world—including two 79-person search and rescue teams and a Disaster Assistance Response Team from the United States—wintry conditions will make search and rescue operations and all humanitarian relief efforts more challenging .

Third, the strength of the earthquakes resulted in entire neighborhoods being reduced to rubble. In addition to the loss of life this has caused, the magnitude of the destruction means that all relief efforts will be challenging thanks to blocked roads, damaged bridges, communications and power outages, food and water shortages, and other critical disruptions. Many of the local and international NGOs that would typically respond to such a disaster have (or have in the recent past had) a presence in Gaziantep supporting Syrian refugees; this could help them understand the terrain and the language, but it also means that many of their own operations could have been destroyed or damaged.

Fourth, Gaziantep is the economic and political center of a region literally on the frontlines of humanitarian response after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Of the nearly 3.8 million registered refugees in Turkey—by far the largest number of refugees hosted by any country in the world—an overwhelming majority are Syrian. Over one million Syrians live in the Turkey-Syria border region, almost half a million in Gaziantep city alone. Though the municipality of Gaziantep has prioritized integration of Syrian refugees for years, the earthquake adds will further stress an already stressed environment. Syrian refugees have been forced to navigate shifting temporary protection measures while dealing with the psychological and physical effects of protracted displacement; for Syrian refugees, the earthquakes create new trauma on top of old.

Q3: Have earthquakes happened in Turkey before?

A3: Turkey ranks among “the most seismically active countries in the world.” The initial 7.8 earthquake on February 6 was the highest magnitude earthquake recorded in Turkey since 1939 and the second highest in its recorded history. But earthquakes are a regular fact of life in many parts of a country that sits on the intersection of two major fault lines . The February 6, 2023, quakes happened along the East Anatolian Fault, though the most recent major earthquake almost a quarter century ago happened along the North Anatolian Fault.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake on August 17, 1999 and its aftershocks resulted in as many as 73,000 casualties : 18,373 deaths, 48,901 people injured, and 5,840 people never found. Though the 1999 earthquake impacted a more populous region that includes Izmit and Istanbul—the latter Turkey’s largest and most densely populated megacity— most of the casualties occurred in buildings, many of which were built using substandard building materials and allowed to stand by government officials who failed to enforce building codes which require earthquake resistance. The levels of devastation seen in the hours after the February 6 earthquakes—e.g., entire multistory apartment buildings crumbling to the ground—are reminiscent of the destruction seen in northwestern Turkey in 1999.

Q4: What is the broader context in Turkey and how could it impact relief and recovery efforts?

A4: Founded in 1923, the Republic of Turkey has long anticipated celebrating its centennial, though its leaders probably would have preferred a calmer environment in which to do so. Turkey will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14 where voters will decide whether to extend President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 20-year rule, which began with him as prime minister in 2003 then continued with his ascendance to the presidency in 2014 , a position he then placed at the top of the country’s leadership structure in a 2017 referendum . They will be voting against the backdrop of a plummeting Turkish lira that lost 44 percent of its value in 2021 alone and an approximate 58 percent annual inflation rate in January 2023.

Regionally, President Erdoğan has signaled interest in rapprochement with the Assad regime in Syria while making increasingly frequent threats to launch more cross-border incursions into northern Syria to attack Kurdish groups, namely the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which it considers an arm of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, a designated terrorist organization also known as the PKK. At the same time, tensions with NATO ally Greece are at the highest levels in years—and speaking of NATO , Turkey continues to delay Finland’s and potentially block Sweden’s entry into the transatlantic security alliance.

Turkey’s ongoing domestic and regional challenges could complicate—or at least divert attention away from—its response to the earthquake, though it is likely to prioritize recovery efforts in an election year, especially in a region that has reliably voted for Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party for the past two decades. The Turkish government has also welcomed international assistance , though the provision of such assistance from Russia and Iran , if it materializes, could result in additional (and unwelcome during an emergency response) diplomatic challenges for Turkish agencies and international organizations coordinating relief efforts.

On the other hand, the disaster could also offer a window for “ earthquake diplomacy ” between otherwise adversarial powers (e.g., Russia and the United States). It could also provide an opportunity for Turkey to resolve its own geostrategic issues, as was the case in the wake of the 1999 earthquake between Turkish and Greek leaders who were, at the time, exchanging similar levels of heated rhetoric. Whatever the geostrategic possibilities, one only hopes that the focus remains on searching for and rescuing as many people as possible in the coming days, after which the hard work of recovery will begin anew in a region all too familiar with disaster.

Erol Yayboke is a senior fellow with the International Security Program and director of the Project on Fragility and Mobility at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Erol Yayboke

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Case Study - Türkiye earthquakes 2023: Lessons learned on business engagement in the humanitarian response

Attachments.

One year after the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria: A case study on the role of business in the humanitarian response

One year ago today, the first earthquake that devastated Türkiye and Syria took place.

To mark this date, CBi has been working with partners to put together a Case Study “Türkiye earthquakes 2023: Lessons learned on business engagement in the humanitarian response”.

While the case study focuses primarily on the humanitarian response, it is important to highlight that a better response paves the way for a swifter and more effective recovery. This came through in our Lessons Learned workshop .

We also wanted to share that today's episode of the Inside Geneva podcast by SwissInfo " Humanitarian and business alliances in disaster response " features a conversation with Erhan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General for Project Development and Coordination for the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), a CBi Member Network, and Florian Rhiza Nery, Deputy Programme Coordinator for CBi.

The recovery from the earthquakes will take time, but reflecting on what went well and what could have been done differently as part of the immediate humanitarian response -- and how this might better engage the private sector -- is essential for us all to improve how we work together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Related Content

Türkiye 2024 ifrc network country plan (upl-2024-maatr002), northwest syria: winterization and flood preparedness response plan (2023-2024 season), syria, mena | syria earthquakes operation update 9-months update (№ mdrsy009), nw syria: environmental country profile for shelter and settlements - 1st edition, september 2023.

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The Turkey/Syria earthquake - not just a new case study!

7th February 2023

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As geographers we often find it handy when a natural hazard event takes place during our hazards scheme of work - it can make what you are teaching much more relevant to the students, and obviously there is a wealth of up-to-date resources at your disposal.

However it is important to remember that what happening on the Turkey/Syria border yesterday isn't just your new case study - it is a catastrophic event with a death toll of around 5,000, which is set to rise over the coming days and weeks. It is a devastating earthquake that has hit a region that has been ravaged by war for more than a decade, where people are already living a very difficult existence.

Alistair Hamill has put together this fantastic thread on Twitter this morning that helps explain the nature of this earthquake - it is a must read if you are considering using this example in your classroom over the coming weeks.

An unfolding thread helping us understand the nature of the devastating earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/mNj6IGtBMq — Alistair Hamill (@lcgeography) February 6, 2023

Here are a couple of links of NGOs that are currently doing incredible work to help out with the relief effort that you can donate to if you wish...

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Vicki Woolven is Subject Lead for Key Stage 4 Humanities at tutor2u. Vicki previously worked as a Head of Geography and Sociology for many years, leading her department to be one of the GA's first Centres of Excellent, and has been a content writer, senior examiner and local authority Key Practitioner for Humanities.

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The 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake

In this GEO unit you'll learn about the earthquake that struck near the city of Gaziantep, Turkey, on 6 February 2023, understanding the causes, effects and the severe and extensive impact of the event on people in both Turkey and Syria.

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