Turkey & Syria Hit by 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake, 2300 People Dead
On Monday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rattled regions of the Middle East, with Turkey and Syria experiencing the brunt of the violent shaking.
So far, Turkey has reported 1,500 deaths, while it’s estimated that 810 people have died in Syria.
Officials are expecting those numbers to rise, as emergency responders comb through the mountains of rubble.
The quake occurred at 4:17 local time, at a depth of 11 miles near the city of Gazaintep, and shook the region for two whole minutes.
Seismologists are calling this the worst earthquake ever recorded in Turkey.
The region was rattled by a second earthquake, occurring just 12 hours later, at a magnitude of 7.5 with the epicenter in the Kahramanmaras province. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said this was not an aftershock, but a second seismic event in the area.
According to the BBC, “Turkey lies in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday’s disaster was the worst the country had seen since 1939, when the Erzincan earthquake in eastern Turkey killed nearly 33,000 people.”
Thousands of buildings have collapsed in the affected areas, roads have been destroyed, and Turkey’s energy infrastructure has suffered serious damage.
The devastating temblor is a painful reminder that California is also earthquake country, and if you own a home in California, it’s vital to have your foundation inspected for any necessary structural upgrades.
Home’s lacking modern earthquake retrofits, or those with severe foundation damage, are more likely to suffer catastrophic destruction during a large quake.
If you think your home may be in need of earthquake retrofitting, foundation repair, or foundation replacement, contact Julian Construction today and we will send one of our foundation specialists out to conduct a free, thorough inspection with a quote for repair.
We have extensive experience serving our Los Angeles community and nearby regions. In fact, Julian Construction has inspected over 30,000 structures in the area! Give us a call at (323) 733-3377 to schedule your free inspection or complete the inspection request form.
