Post-2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Assessment of Masonry Mosques and Minarets in Türkiye: Field Observations and Numerical Earthquake Analysis

Hatay (Ancient Antioch), one of Türkiye’s most historically significant and seismically active provinces, experienced extensive damage during the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence (Mw = 7.7 and Mw = 7.6) and its aftershocks. Among the affected structures, masonry mosques and minarets suffered critical damage, revealing significant seismic vulnerabilities. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the seismic performance and structural vulnerabilities of masonry mosques and minarets in Hatay following the devastating 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence. By integrating extensive field observations with advanced numerical analysis, the research documents widespread damage to both traditional kiosk-style and classical minarets, identifying critical factors such as poor local soil conditions, insufficient material strength, and lack of engineering services that contributed to structural collapses, including that of the historic Habibi Neccar Mosque. Through finite element analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS, the study compares different material configurations to assess nonlinear dynamic responses under representative seismic excitations, revealing that recorded ground motions in Hatay significantly exceeded current design-level spectra. The findings offer vital insights for the seismic assessment, retrofitting, and preservation of irreplaceable cultural and religious heritage structures in seismically active regions. This study addresses the enhancement of seismic resistance to historical structures not merely as a safety issue, but also as a social sustainability element that ensures the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations.