Emergency response, and community impact after February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık and Elbistan Earthquakes: reconnaissance findings and observations on affected region in Türkiye

Date

2024-02-01

Author

Şenol Balaban, Meltem
Doğulu, Canay
Akdede, Nil
Akoğlu, Haldun
Karakayalı, Onur
Yılmaz, Sarper
Yılmaz, Serkan
Ajobiewe, Tolulope
Güzel, Selin
İkizer, Gözde
Akın, Müge
Ünal, Yeşim
Karancı, Ayşe Nuray

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Türkiye has a long history of devastating earthquakes, and on February 6, 2023, the region experienced two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, striking Pazarcık and Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, respectively, on the East Anatolian Fault Zone. These earth- quakes resulted in significant loss of life and property, impacting multiple cities across 11 cities, and leaving a lasting impact on the country. The 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes rank among the deadliest and most damaging earthquakes in Türkiye, alongside the his- torical significance of the 1939 Erzincan Earthquake and the 1999 Marmara Earthquake. Despite reforms following the 1999 Marmara Earthquake in disaster policy and prepared- ness, the scale of damage from the February 6 earthquakes has been shocking, necessitat- ing further insights and lessons for future earthquake management. This paper presents the outcomes of immediate response efforts organized after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earth- quakes to elucidate emergency response activities and their impacts on communities, con- sidering the substantial size and severity of the damages. The study focuses on evaluating the emergency response provided within the first 24 h, 3 days, and 2 weeks after the earth- quakes, aiming to promptly identify the nature and effectiveness of these responses, as well as the conditions that hindered their efficacy. By shedding light on the specific experiences and challenges faced during these crucial timeframes, the research aims to offer valuable insights and lessons learned. These findings contribute to improved preparedness strategies and more efficient emergency response measures needed in responding to future disaster scenarios. Ultimately, this study provides a useful resource for all stakeholders involved in emergency response and disaster management, offering valuable guidance to enhance resil- ience and preparedness in the face of seismic hazards.

Subject Keywords

Emergency response, Relief, Shelter, Health services, Community impact

URI

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10518-024-01867-3
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/108645

Collections

Department of City and Regional Planning, Article