DISASTER ARCHIVES

Turkey-Syria Earthquakes (2023​)

On 6 February 2023, magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria, collapsing thousands of buildings and devastating cities. More than 55,000 people were killed and millions were displaced as homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure crumbled in minutes. Rescue teams from both countries and worldwide raced against freezing winter temperatures to pull survivors from the rubble. The disaster exposed pre-existing vulnerabilities, including conflict damage in Syria and poorly enforced building standards in Türkiye, leaving long-term humanitarian, economic, and psychosocial impacts that will shape the region’s recovery for years. International aid remains critical for long-term housing and livelihoods.

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On 8 September 2023, a powerful magnitude-6.8 (or 6.9) earthquake struck the Al Haouz Province in Morocco, near the High Atlas Mountains and southwest of Marrakech. The quake devastated remote mountain villages and historic districts alike, flattening homes built of traditional mud and clay bricks, pushing thousands into homelessness overnight. Around 2,960 people were killed and over 5,600 injured, while tens of thousands lost houses or saw their livelihoods obliterated. Entire settlements such as Moulay Brahim, Amizmiz and the villages surrounding the Atlas peaks were reduced to rubble, and the scale of the disaster highlighted how vulnerable rural communities remain to natural hazards.

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The 2021 European floods severely affected Germany and Belgium after days of extreme rainfall caused rivers; including the Ahr, Erft, and Meuse to overflow. Entire towns such as Ahrweiler and Schuld were devastated as homes, bridges, and roads collapsed under the force of rapidly rising waters. More than 220 people were killed and tens of thousands were displaced. Critical infrastructure, including power grids and water systems, was heavily damaged, leading to long-term recovery efforts. The disaster highlighted the growing climate-related risks in Europe and the urgent need for improved flood-management and early-warning systems.

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On 28 September 2018, a magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck near Palu in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia which triggering a devastating tsunami that swept coastal zones. The twin disaster includes quake, tsunami, landslides and widespread liquefaction; destroyed entire neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure.Official estimates record around 4,340 fatalities, many more injured, and thousands displaced. Entire streets sank, houses collapsed, and coastal communities were submerged, a stark illustration of nature’s force and the vulnerability of built and natural environments alike.

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