Empirical Fragility Curves from Damage Data on Relatively New Low-Rise RC Buildings in Malatya Obtained After 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

This study analyzes seismic damage data from 17,181 low-rise (1–3 story) reinforced concrete residential buildings constructed after the year 2000 located in Malatya, following the February 6, 2023, Pazarcık (M_w = 7.7) and Elbistan (M_w = 7.6) earthquakes. For all buildings, firstly, the formally assigned seismic damage levels were validated/revised based on damage photographs. The buildings, without sufficient proof to validate/revise the structural damage level were excluded from the evaluation. Then, the peak ground accelerations (PGA) and Modified Mercalli Intensities (MMI) at the coordinates of all buildings were obtained using ShakeMaps provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Based on this data, the probability of relatively new low-rise reinforced concrete buildings in Malatya to exceed different damage states (such as slight, heavy damage and collapsed) were computed, and empirical fragility curves were developed using a log-normal cumulative distribution function. Finally, the obtained empirical fragility curves were compared with both empirical and analytical fragility curves proposed in the literature for reinforced concrete buildings.