On 17 August 1999, a catastrophic magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Kocaeli Province of Turkey, causing monumental damage and between 17,127 and 18,373 deaths. Named for the quake's proximity to the northwestern city of İzmit, the earthquake is also commonly referred to as the 17 August Earthquake or the 1999 Gölcük Earthquake.
On August 17, 1999, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the Kocaeli Province in Turkey, causing immense destruction and claiming between 17,127 and 18,373 lives. This quake is also frequently referred to as the İzmit Earthquake or the 1999 Gölcük disaster.