Seismic damage assessment based on site observation following the Düzce (Gölyaka) earthquake (Mw = 5.9, November 23, 2022)

On November 23, 2022, at 04:08 local time, the Gölyaka district of Düzce, which is located in the west of the Black Sea Region of Turkey, struck an earthquake with a magnitude of Mw = 5.9. A total of 181 reinforced and masonry buildings were severely damaged due to the earthquake and it is reported that need to be demolished urgently throughout the province of Düzce. In this study, the seismological characteristics and recorded ground motion accelerograms of the earthquake are evaluated. The case studies of damaged reinforced concrete and masonry buildings because of the earthquake are also investigated. The factors that cause the buildings to be damaged during the earthquake are evaluated based on site observations.