Turkey: Massive Earthquake hits Van and surrounding areas

A massive Earthquake of 7.3 magnitude in southeast part of the Turkey claimed 500-1,000 lives. Emergency workers battled to rescue people trapped in buildings in the city of Van and surrounding districts on the banks of Lake Van, near Turkey’s border with Iran.

Reason: The magnitude 7.2 (Mw) Eastern Highlands earthquake was centred about 16 km north-northeast of city of Van, Turkey and at an estimated focal depth of 20 km (12.4 mi) in the complex zone of continental collision between the Arabian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, beyond the eastern extent of the Armenian and Asia Minor fault zones. Part of the convergence between these two plates takes place along the Bitlis-Zagros fold and thrust belt. The earthquake’s focal mechanism indicates oblique thrust faulting, consistent with the expected tectonics in this region. (wikipedia)

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2011