Seismotectonic Aspects of the Gediz, Turkey, Earthquake of March 1970

In 1970 March 28, Asia Minor was shaken by a severe earthquake of magnitude 7. The shock affected the region of Gediz where 1100 people were killed. The earthquake was associated with 45 km of surface faulting, most of which occurred on pre-existing faults and zones of weakness. The sense of movement was predominantly normal, with a relatively small horizontal component. Maximum relative displacements of 220 cm vertical and 30 cm horizontal were measured. The overall regional deformation seems to be an extension in the north-east-south-west direction. The earthquake was preceded and followed by a long series of shocks.