6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Adana in south-central Turkey on June 27, 1998
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern Turkey's Cilicia region, killing at least 145 people and causing an estimated $1 billion in economic damage.
Key Facts
- Moment Magnitude
- 6.3 Mw
- Death Toll
- At least 145 people
- Injured
- 1,500 people
- Economic Loss
- 1 billion USD
- Maximum Intensity
- IX (Destructive) EMS scale
- Local Time of Strike
- 16:55
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake struck along a seismically active zone in the Cilicia region of southern Turkey. Inadequately engineered buildings, particularly in the town of Ceyhan, amplified the destructive impact of the seismic event on the local population and infrastructure.
On 27 June 1998 at 16:55 local time, a moment magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit the Adana–Ceyhan area in south-central Turkey, reaching a maximum intensity of IX on the European Macroseismic Scale. The towns of Adana and Ceyhan, along with numerous villages along the Ceyhan River, experienced severe shaking and structural collapse.
At least 145 people were killed and 1,500 injured, with many thousands left homeless across Adana, Ceyhan, and surrounding villages. Total economic losses reached an estimated US$1 billion, with the heaviest casualties and damage concentrated in Ceyhan due to poorly constructed buildings.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 145 (earthquake)