First Field Exercise of the European Earthquake Geology Task Force (EuQuaGe) performed in Türkiye on the surface rupture of 06 February 2023 Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) Earthquake

The EuQuaGe is a volunteer organization of Earth scientists from European governmental and academic institutions for rapid, effective, and coordinated assistance to national scientific organizations. The goal of the EuQuaGe is to acquire detailed field observations of the earthquake(s) effects on the natural environment using a standardized methodology and shared tools in order to promote the implementation of a worldwide harmonized catalog. By 2023, the EuQuaGe initiative will involve up to 36 Scientific Institutions (Universities, Research Centers and Geological Surveys) from 18 European Countries. EuQuaGe successfully performed its first exercise in the provinces of Malatya and Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye between 22-29 October 2023. Following a coordination meeting held at AFAD Malatya Emergency Management Center, a total of twenty researchers from four different countries, including Türkiye, Italy, France and Portugal, made detailed observations on the co-seismic ruptures caused by the Mw 7.6 Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) Earthquake on 06 February 2023. The six days in the field allowed us to share a common working methodology to collect coseismic structural data, together with drone images, and to discuss the task force operation mode, before, during and after the surveys.