Disaster management following the great Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in 2023, Türkiye

Abstract. Türkiye experienced devastating earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023, making it one of the most severe tragedies of the century. This study analyzed the Turkish government's disaster response strategies with respect to these earthquakes, focusing on crisis communication, response capacity, and crisis management. The study utilized qualitative methodology and purposive sampling, with the government-affiliated Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) as a sample. The purposive sampling method involves selecting a representative sample that can be analyzed effectively, allowing solutions to be derived from a problem. Starting on 6 February 2023, official tweets and press release statements from the AFAD over 25 d were analyzed. AFAD's initial press statement was released 13 min after the earthquake, and the declaration of a level four disaster occurred only 86 min after the earthquake, demonstrating that state institutions were fully aware of the severity of the situation. The presence of over 270 000 volunteers in the disaster area highlights an incredible spirit of solidarity. However, coordinating so many volunteers in the disaster zone presents significant difficulties. Moreover, there were profound challenges regarding adequate and timely search and rescue capacity, the coordination of all response operations, and the management of information on social media. The results indicate to the global community that despite extensive rescue and response capabilities in disaster management, there are still challenges with respect to preventing loss of life. The primary focus should be on disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, and design and construction implementation should align with seismic provisions. Furthermore, social media played a pivotal role in information management and coordination in the aftermath of the earthquakes.