The quakes that shook Turkey: Special report

Two devastating earthquakes hit Turkey within the space of less than three months during 1999. The first - with its epicentre at Izmit in Turkey's heavily populated northwest - struck at 0302 hours local time on 17 August. It left some 17,000 people dead and thousands more homeless. The second struck just 100km away on 12 November, killing hundreds more. Below are the main stories from BBC News Online's coverage at the time:

New crisis for quake victims
Turkey issues an international appeal for winter tents to shelter tens of thousands of people left homeless by November's earthquake.

• Bulldozers move in
• Quake victim found alive
• In pictures: Turkey's desperate search
• Quake rescue repairs government's image
• Clinton promises aid for Turkey

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The Izmit quake - August 1999

Return to a shattered city

"In the shattered city, people salvage what they can, while they can. They're surviving day to day " - Chris Morris revisits the scene one month after the quake.

• Eyewitness: Describing devastation
• The survivors' tales
• Eyewitness accounts
• Rocky road to recovery
• Quake cities relocation plan
• Healing the mental scars
• Environmental impact may be lasting

"Huge human cost" - Rageh Omaar reports
Turkish minister responsible for rescue Yayha Akkurt: "We are hoping for Western expert help"

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Seismic suffering

Will Istanbul be next?
The latest devastating earthquake to rock Turkey has significantly increased the risk of a large seismic strike near Istanbul, says an expert on the region's geology.

• Deathtrap cities go on growing
• Fury over shoddy housing

Professor Polat Gulkan of Middle East Technical University: "This disaster typifies the urban sprawl of Turkey"
"Quake hit a high-risk area": BBC's Pam O'Toole reports