GRADEVINAR, cilt.65, sa.8, ss.743-752, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Numerous ground motions of various intensities have been registered in Eastern
Turkey since 23 October 2011. Two of them resulted in severe loss of life and
great material damage in the towns of Van and Erciş. More than 600,000 people
were affected by damage caused by earthquakes in that period. Van is one of
the most recent and fastest developing regions of Turkey, which is why thorough
investigations must be made to check seismic properties of buildings erected in this
region. Types of seismic damage inflicted on buildings, and causes of damage to
various buildings built in Van and Erciş, are analysed in the paper.