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The Devastating Earthquakes of February 6, 2023
Magnitude and Impact
On February 6, 2023, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. The quake was followed by a second magnitude-7.5 earthquake several hours later. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 19 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or higher occurred within the year, while no earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 were recorded.Humanitarian Crisis
The earthquakes caused immense devastation, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. In Turkey, the death toll has surpassed 53,537, with over 107,213 people injured and 140 still missing. In neighboring Syria, the death toll has reached 5,951,847, and over 14,500 people have been injured.Earthquake Magnitudes
Earthquake magnitudes are measured using the Richter scale, which assigns a numerical value based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on seismographs. The magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Turkey and Syria was considered a major earthquake and was felt across a wide region.Seismic Events
In its most general sense, an earthquake is any seismic event that generates seismic waves. These waves can be caused by natural processes, such as the movement of tectonic plates along faults, or by human activities, such as explosions.The February 6 Earthquakes
The earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 were caused by the collision of the Arabian and Anatolian tectonic plates. The plates slid past each other along a fault line, resulting in the release of enormous amounts of energy and the generation of seismic waves. 
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