Comprehensive analysis of the damages in Hatay due to the February 2023 Pazarcık and Elbistan earthquakes

On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 Mw struck the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş in Turkey. These earthquakes affected 11 provinces and were felt in neighbouring countries including Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Iran. Although the epicentres were approximately 200 km and 300 km away from Hatay, respectively, Hatay was among the most affected provinces, where many buildings were severely damaged or collapsed. In this study, we present field observations of earthquake-induced damage in Hatay by investigating the behaviour of reinforced concrete buildings under earthquake conditions, including the causes and consequences. The results indicate that the main causes of damage were the high velocity and acceleration of earthquakes, which exceeded design expectations of the Turkish Building Earthquake Code-2018 as well as issues associated with ground amplification, liquefaction, and building design. Additional contributing factors included zoning plans, illegal construction, poor workmanship, and the use of inadequate materials. Based on these insights, the study proposes several recommendations for earthquake-resistant building designs and construction practices.