The seismic events in Pazarc & imath;k (Mw 7.7) and Elbistan (Mw 7.6) on February 6, 2023, caused widespread damage and destruction across 11 provinces and districts in eastern T & uuml;rkiye. Despite similarities in construction quality and structural stock characteristics, notable differences in the patterns of destruction between the affected cities have highlighted the need for a more detailed investigation. This study focuses on examining local site effects and seismic behavior in residential areas within the impacted zone to better understand the structural damage caused by these earthquakes. Geotechnical data from the affected cities were used as the basis for conducting nonlinear seismic site response analyses. These analyses, using real earthquake records measured in city centers, explored factors such as liquefaction potential, amplification capacity, and the dynamic behavior of soil profiles under seismic loads. Simulations based on actual earthquake records and soil data provided insights into the causes of structural damage in the affected areas during both seismic events. Finally, an evaluation of site effects on structural damage resulting from both major earthquakes was conducted, offering valuable insights through a comprehensive analysis of the results.

On 6 February 2023, two independent earthquake pairs on the East Anatolian Fault Zone, with epicenters in Pazarcik (Mw = 7.7) and Elbistan (Mw = 7.6) districts of Kahramanmaras province, caused great destruction. Adiyaman and Golbasi districts of this city are among the settlements most affected by the earthquake. Especially in the district where geotechnical damages are most observed, the destructive effects of earthquakes have been clearly observed in buildings with different structural systems. In this study, information is given about the earthquakes that hit the region and the fault zone where the earthquakes occur. Geotechnical and structural damages occurring in the villages and center of the district were evaluated within the scope of earthquakes and structural engineering. It can be stated that damages observed in the district center are generally caused by soil-structure interaction problems. The fact that masonry structures, which are widely used in rural areas, do not benefit from any engineering services has an impact on the level of damage. The main reason for the damages occurring in the reinforced concrete structures in the district is the reinforced concrete system that is not designed properly or not built in accordance with the design. This case study demonstrated the importance of earthquake-soil-structure interactions in line with earthquake-resistant building design principles.