Background

On August 17 at 3:02 a.m. local time, an earthquake lasting 45 seconds and reported to be between 7.4 and 7.8 on the Richter scale, hit Izmit, Turkey, approximately 55 miles east-southeast of Istanbul. Initial reports indicate that the major areas affected include various districts of Istanbul and provinces of Izmit (Kocaeli), Adapazari (Sakarya), Yalova, Bursa, Eskishir, and Bolu to east and southeast of Istanbul. The Government of Turkey (GOT) also reports that Turkey's main naval base at Golcuk was hard-hit. Geophysicists at the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center described the quake as one of the most powerful recorded in the 20th century, nearly rivaling the 7.9- magnitude temblor that devastated San Francisco in 1906. It was felt as far east as Ankara, 200 miles away, and across parts of the Balkans. More than 200 aftershocks have followed, more than 20 of which were a magnitude of 4.5, and 4 of which were at 5 on the Richter scale.

For more information, go to the OCHA Internet Website.

To read the report from the U.S. Geological Survey 1999 Scientific Expedition to Turkey, go to the Field Investigations of the 1999 Izmit Earthquake.

SATERN is currently providing the much needed "Health and Welfare" communications with the areas affected by the earthquake.

If you have relatives in the affected area and wish to inquire into
their welfare, you can send an e-mail message to SATERN and it
will be relayed via Amateur (HAM) Radio to a station in that area.

Please include the following information in your message.

1. Name(s) of the person(s) about whom you are inquiring.
2. The last known address of this person.
3. Your name
4. Your address
5. Your telephone number
6. Your e-mail address