There was a large preliminary magnitude 7.8 #earthquake in southwestern #Turkey. This event was located near several cities and communities and it is likely there will be serious damage and loss of life.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000jllz/executive
This earthquake was felt over a wide area including both #Turkey and #Syria.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000jllz/map
The USGS pager indicates there will be significant casualties and serious economic loss.
The pager system uses a series of calculations which consider population density, infrastructure and the regional economy to determine possible impacts from #earthquakes.
The Mercalli intensity map indicates strong to very strong and some severe shaking over a large region. The shaking is what causes damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Earthquake intensity (how much shaking is experienced) is different from magnitude. It’s possible to have a large magnitude earthquake w/ little shaking. When there is lots of shaking, the risk of damage increases.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000jllz/shakemap/intensity
Please remember if you are going to share information, videos or photos of this earthquake that we live in a global society. Consider marking images as sensitive to protect those who may be concerned about loved ones in this region.
For more great information about earthquakes follow @DrWendyRocks here, and on other social media platforms.
The USGS, @EricFielding and other seismologists, both here and on other platforms.
And to help increase preparedness and resiliency for natural hazards in your community support, Geoscience Education from kindergarten through college.
Educated citizens are better able to participate in the governance in their community which is where preparedness starts.
In particular, all high school, students should have a high-quality Geoscience class before the graduate. Understanding how geology impacts your community makes a big difference in preparedness response and recovery!
Laura Hollister