Tsunamis in Turkey
A total of 7 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 365 have killed 705 people in Turkey. Compared to other countries, Tsunamis therefore occur rather rarely.The strongest tidal wave registered in Turkey so far reached a height of 5.3 meters. On 10/30/2020, no losses of human lifes have been registered by this tsunami.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and the economy had been a tsunami on 10/14/1344.
Other natural hazards in Turkey:
› Earthquakes
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Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 1,700 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 1,700 years.
The largest tsunamis in Turkey since 365 AD.
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/30/2020 | Earthquakes in Turkey (Aegean Sea) with a magnitude of 7.0. | 5.3 m | 0 | |
| 07/20/2017 | Earthquakes in Turkey (Gulf Of G?kova) with a magnitude of 6.6. | 2 m | 0 | |
| 08/17/1999 | Earthquakes in Turkey (Kocaeli, Turkey) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 2.5 m | 5 | |
| 09/03/1968 | Earthquakes in Turkey (Black Sea) with a magnitude of 6.6. | 3 m | 0 | |
| 07/09/1956 | Earthquakes in Greece (Cyclades) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 2.1 m | 0 | |
| 10/14/1344 | Earthquakes in Turkey (Marmara Sea, Strait Of Bosporus) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 0 m | 0 | |
| 07/21/365 | Earthquakes in Greece (Crete) with a magnitude of 8.0. The tsunami also reached Egypt, Spain, Greece. A total of 5,000 humans died. | 0 m | 700 |
These evaluations are based on data from the Global Historical Tsunami Database of the National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, and World Data Service (NGDC/WDS), doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Individual data have been summarized or translated.
Most severe natural disasters worldwide
Recent earthquakes and their magnitudes in Turkey
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