1970 Gediz earthquake
  | |
| Date | 28 March 1970[1] |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 21:05:0Z |
| Magnitude | 7.2 Mw[1] |
| Epicenter | 39°12′N 29°30′E / 39.2°N 29.5°ECoordinates: 39°12′N 29°30′E / 39.2°N 29.5°E |
| Areas affected | Turkey |
| Casualties | 1,086 dead, 1,260 injured[1] |
The 1970 Gediz earthquake (also known as the 1970 Kütahya-Gediz earthquake) struck western Turkey on 28 March at about 23:05 local time. The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.2.[1]
The event killed 1,086 people and left 1,260 people wounded and many thousands homeless in Gediz.[1] a district of Kütahya Province situated 98 km (61 mi) southeast of Kütahya.[2] Many people were burned alive as fires broke out from overturned stoves, and 9,452 buildings in the region were severely damaged or destroyed.[1]
The town of Gediz, home to repeated natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, was relocated following a government resolution soon after the destruction to a new place 7 km (4.3 mi) away on the road to Uşak under the name "Yeni Gediz" (literally: New Gediz). The residents moved in their newly built, earthquake-resistant homes. Neighboring towns and villages were also rebuilt at places with relative minimum earthquake risk.[1]
Other major earthquakes occurred in Gediz in 1866 and 1896, and on June 25, 1944, at 07:20 local time, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in Gediz, killing 20 people and damaging around 3,500 buildings.[1]