Disasters with highest death tolls
1999 Izmit Earthquake
Turkey
The 1999 İzmit earthquake (also known as the Kocaeli, Gölcük, or Marmara earthquake) occurred on 17 August at 03:01:40 local time in northwestern Turkey. The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The event lasted for 37 seconds, killing around 17,000 people and left more than 250,000 people homeless. The nearby city of İzmit was severely damaged.