December 26, 1939 Earthquake: Erzincan, Turkey

1939, December 26. The Turkish earthquake of December 26, 1939, was one of the largest shocks ever recorded on Anatolia. The earthquake occurred at 23:57:16 GMT according to Richter, 1958. The epicenter was in Turkey near latitude 39.5 N, longitude 39.5 E, between Erzincan and Erzuruffi, which is about 160 km from the coast of the Black Sea. The focal depth of the earthquake was 27 km. The main shock had a magnitude of 7.9 - 8 on the Richter scale. The intensity near the epicenter was between 11-12 degrees on the Mercal1i-Cancani scale. Many other rather strong, intermittent shocks and aftershocks occurred in the week following the main shock. The earthquake caused a small tsunami in the Black Sea. (reference #2778)

December 26, 1939, 23:57 UTC, 39.8 N, 39.5 E, magnitude 3.0, 32,700 deaths. The earthquake in Anatolia of 1939 killed 32000 people and destroyed many tens of thousands of dwellings; based on 1940 replacement values the damage amounted to about £10 million. (reference #1138)

December 26, 1939, Turkey: Erzincan, magnitude 7.9, 30,000 deaths. Roughly elliptical; macroseismic area, 1300 km long (east-west) and 600 km wide. Strike-slip displacements up to 3.7 m with smaller vertical displacements. Tectonics similar to San Andreas in California. Large activity continued during 1942-4. (reference #1003)

The 1939 Erzincan earthquake along the eastern segment of the NAF was responsible for 33 000 fatalities and c. 100 000 injuries, and for the destruction of c. 120 000 houses, making this seismic event the costliest in terms of the loss of life and property in Turkey in the twentieth century. These numbers and the intensity of total destruction in the region prompted the policy makers and government officials to outline and adopt, for the first time in the country, seismic building regulations. (reference #13072)

1939, December 26, 32,962 deaths, $20 million damage. (reference #1250)

1939, December 26,, Erzincan, E. Anatolia, magnitude 8.0, 23,000 dead. (reference #1002)

1939, December 26, 23:57:16 UTC, 39.7 N, 39.7 E, magnitude 8.0 MS. Catastrophe at Erzincan. (reference #1071)

1939, December 26, 23:57:21 UTC, 39.5 N, 38.5 E, shallow depth, magnitude 7.9 MS. (reference #88)

1939, December 26, 23:57:21 UTC, 39.5 N, 38.5 E, magnitude 8.0 MS. (reference #130)

1939, December 26, 23:57;21 UTC, 39.5 N, 38.5 E, magnitude 8.0 MS. (reference #1092)

December 26, 1939, Turkey, magnitude 8.0 MS. (reference #1314)

1939, December 26, 23:57:22.58 UTC. 39.77 N, 39.533 E, depth 35 km, magnitude 7.8 MS, 7.7 Mw. (reference #9910)

1939, December 26, 23:57:23.82 UTC. 39.907 N, 39.586 E, depth 20 km, magnitude 7.8 Mw. (reference #10476, v9.1)