Evaluation of Services Provided During Three Major Earthquakes in Türkiye: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the services provided after three major earthquakes in Türkiye (Gölcük, Van, Elazığ) to examine in depth from the perspective of earthquakes and to present policy recommendations. The phenomenological design was adopted in the study. The study was conducted with 30 people who experienced the earthquakes between 07.04.2021 and 14.06.2021. In the study, theft and looting were the most frequently coded common features in the Gölcük and Van earthquakes. One of the most frequently coded common features in the Van and Elazığ earthquakes was that nothing was done about CBRN. In both earthquakes, it was found that the telephone outage that occurred after the earthquake was commonly coded. It was observed that there were problems in terms of information, guidance and awareness of assembly areas. It was evaluated that there were traffic problems after the earthquakes. While the lack of psychosocial support services was mentioned in the Gölcük earthquake, it was evaluated that the provision of psychosocial support services began to become evident in the subsequent earthquakes. It was determined that the number of teams and personnel in the search and rescue efforts in the Gölcük earthquake were insufficient. It was evaluated that training and drill activities have an important place in minimizing the problems experienced after earthquakes. It is seen that no radical work has been done to protect domestic or street animals after the earthquakes. As a result, it is recommended that disaster plans be prepared comprehensively, psychosocial support services be developed, training and drill activities be emphasized, critical facilities be strengthened, the infrastructure system be prepared for disasters, the communication system be strengthened, and security procedures be implemented effectively, using the lessons learned from the earthquakes.