Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey Disaster Committee Summary of Field Observations of February 6th Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Abstract

An earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale occurred at 04:17am on February 6, 2023 in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş province Turkey. In the hours following the 7.7 magnitude event in Kahramanmaraş, a second 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the region and a third 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Gaziantep, causing extensive damage and death. A total of ten provinces directly experienced the earthquake, including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, and Kilis. The official figures indicate 31,643 people were killed, 80,278 were injured, and 6,444 buildings were destroyed within seven days of the earthquakes (as of 12:00pm/noon on Monday, February 13th). The area affected by the earthquake has been officially declared to be 500km in diameter. This report primarily relies on observations made by pioneer Emergency Physicians (EPs) who went to the disaster areas shortly after the first earthquake (in the early stages of the disaster). According to their observations: (1) Due to winter conditions, there were transportation problems and a shortage of personnel reaching disaster areas on the first day after the disaster; (2) On the second day of the disaster, health equipment was in short supply; (3) As of the third day, health workers were unprepared in terms of knowledge and experience for the disaster; and (4) The subsequent deployment of health personnel to the disaster area was uncoordinated and unplanned on the following days, which resulted in the health personnel working there not being able to meet even their basic needs (such as food, heating, and shelter). During the first week, coordination was most frequently reported as the most significant problem.

From Tragedy to Resilience in a University Hospital: Characteristics of Patients in the Aftermath of the 2023 Turkey Earthquake

“…Many people were sleeping in their homes when the earthquake struck. Due to the damaged transportation and communication network, search and rescue and health teams were late in reaching the heavily damaged areas, 3,8 and the number of patients was so high that health teams were inadequate, causing patients to reach hospitals late with emergency aid teams. Due to the damage to hospitals in 2 major districts of Hatay province, 1 of the cities where the devastating impact of the earthquake was felt the most, patients were referred to neighboring provinces, and because the centers on the way were also damaged and their capacities were limited, they were directed to Adana province where there are nearby and large centers.…”

“…Such problems delayed the delivery of aid and search and rescue operations. 3,8 It was determined that admissions due to earthquake-related trauma intensified in the first week and peaked on the third day. When the ED application types of the patients were examined, the number of patients who arrived by ambulance and by their own means was close to each other in the first 3 d, while the Ö Taşkın and NR Dişel number of patients who arrived by ambulance reached the highest level on the third day.…”

Comparing Doppler Ultrasonography and Computerized Tomography Angiography in Emergency Department Evaluation of Earthquake-Related Crush Injuries: A Case Series Analysis

“…Official statistics revealed a devastating toll with 50,399 fatalities, 80,278 individuals sustaining injuries, and the collapse of 6,444 buildings. 1 In response to the formidable challenges faced in delivering health care services to severely affected provinces, the Ministry of Health in the Republic of Turkey (Ankara, Turkey) initiated the implementation of transport center systems. Subsequently, it transformed three provinces-Adana, Mersin, and Diyarbakır-characterized by lower seismic damage, ample health care facility capacity, and convenient access to air, land, and sea transportation, into designated transport centers.…”

Enhancing Triage and Management in Earthquake-Related Injuries: The SAFE-QUAKE Scoring System for Predicting Dialysis Requirements

“…The epidemiology of earthquake-related injuries and deaths is unique, requiring careful consideration of the challenges and complexities they present. 1,2 When evaluating earthquake-related injuries, it becomes evident that the collapse of structures leads to a multitude of injuries, including blunt force trauma, penetrating injuries, and crush injuries. Survivors of such injuries often face additional complications that contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates.…”

“…Particularly earthquakes, with their potential to impact entire cities or even multiple regions, profoundly disrupt prehospital and hospital capacities, resulting in inadequate resources to meet the comprehensive needs of the affected population. 1 To ensure effective, efficient, and prudent resource utilization, proper triage practices play an indispensable role. 4 Triage assumes paramount importance in earthquake settings and remains a fundamental practice across all disaster scenarios.…”