Failure Mechanisms, Their Root Causes, and Strengthening Strategies of Mosques and Minarets in Kahramanmaraş After the 2023 Earthquake Sequence

On 6 February 2023, a sequence of earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş affected eleven cities in southeastern Türkiye. Following the main earthquakes, which caused severe destruction, numerous aftershocks occurred, further amplifying the damage in the region. In this paper, the seismic damage to 51 mosques and their minarets located in Kahramanmaraş city and its districts are structurally evaluated. Based on the field observations, the qualitative damage and performance levels of the structures were determined. Seismic parameters of Kahramanmaraş and its districts, the epicenters of the two earthquakes, were compared. The results show that mosques and minarets with masonry and reinforced concrete structural systems suffered severe damage and collapse. The observed failure modes in the mosques and minarets were analyzed within a cause-and-effect framework. Damage criteria for mosques and minarets have been adapted and assigned to standardized performance levels specified in the Earthquake Risk Management Guide for Historical Buildings by the General Directorate of Foundations in Türkiye: of the mosque complexes examined, 13 reached a level of Collapse; 27 were at the Collapse Prevention level; 3 were classified as having Controlled Damage; 5 as having Limited Damage; and 3 remained undamaged. In addition to the specific structural weaknesses and low mechanical properties of masonry and reinforced concrete building systems, the lack of engineering consultancy during construction and non-compliance with seismic design regulations are also among the causes of failures. Finally, repair and retrofitting solutions for masonry and RC mosques and minarets are proposed. While numerous post-earthquake surveys have primarily examined individual case studies, the novelty of this study lies in the systematic assessment of failure mechanisms in religious buildings located in Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the 6th of February 2023 earthquakes, considering both masonry and reinforced concrete systems.