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Extensive off-fault damage around the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake surface ruptures

Author

Listed:
  • Jihong Liu

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Sigurjón Jónsson

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Xing Li

    (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST))

  • Wenqian Yao

    (CNRS
    Tianjin University)

  • Yann Klinger

    (CNRS)

Abstract

Quantifying coseismic fault offsets for surface ruptures of major earthquakes is important for earthquake cycle and slip-rate studies, and thus for earthquake hazard assessments. However, measurements of such offsets generally underestimate fault slip due to inelastic deformation and secondary fault offsets, i.e., off-fault damage. Here, we use satellite synthetic aperture radar images to quantify off-fault damage in the two 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye) magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 earthquakes. We first derive three-dimensional coseismic surface displacements and show that on average ~35% of the coseismic slip is accommodated by off-fault damage within 5–7 km of the coseismic surface ruptures. Fault sections exhibiting geometrical complexities (e.g., bends and step-overs) experienced a higher level of off-fault damage than simpler fault sections. Our results highlight the importance of extending off-fault damage assessments to several km away from fault ruptures and indicate that fault offset measurements may underestimate slip-rate estimations by as much as a third.

Suggested Citation

  • Jihong Liu & Sigurjón Jónsson & Xing Li & Wenqian Yao & Yann Klinger, 2025. "Extensive off-fault damage around the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake surface ruptures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56466-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56466-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chengli Liu & Thorne Lay & Rongjiang Wang & Tuncay Taymaz & Zujun Xie & Xiong Xiong & Tahir Serkan Irmak & Metin Kahraman & Ceyhun Erman, 2023. "Complex multi-fault rupture and triggering during the 2023 earthquake doublet in southeastern Türkiye," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. John E. Vidale & Yong-Gang Li, 2003. "Damage to the shallow Landers fault from the nearby Hector Mine earthquake," Nature, Nature, vol. 421(6922), pages 524-526, January.
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