March 13, 1992 Earthquake: Erzincan, Turkey

Name: March 13, 1992 Earthquake: Erzincan, Turkey
Start: 1992-03-13
Location: Erzincan, Turkey

March 13, 1992 · M6.9 · 653 deaths · $750 million

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Erzincan, Turkey on March 13, 1992 at 17:18:39 UTC, 27 km below the surface. It killed 653 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: March 13, 1992
Time: 17:18:39 UTC
Place: Erzincan, Turkey
Magnitude: 6.9 (Ms)
Focal depth: 27 km (17 mi)
Intensity: 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 39.710° N, 39.605° E
Country: Turkey

The toll

Deaths: 653
Injuries: 2,000
Damage: $750 million
Houses damaged: 8,057

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

1992, March 13. At least 498 people killed, 2,000 injured, some missing; 2,220 houses heavily damaged at Erzincan. Landslides and avalanches blocked a number of roads in the epicentral area. Felt strongly in many parts of northeastern

Turkey. (reference #1053)

1992, March 13. 653 killed, $750 million damage. (reference #1250)

1992, March 13. Intensity VIII, 653 killed, 8057 buildings damaged. (reference #1251)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1992 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1992 Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5317.