Local Authority Experiences in Disaster Response: A Case Study of Mukhtars in Hatay, Türkiye after the February 6, 2023 Earthquakes

This study examines the experiences of mukhtars in Hatay, Türkiye, following the February 6 earthquakes. Framed by the “institutional voids” concept, this qualitative study finds that mukhtars became critical first responders but were systemically overburdened by the collapse of formal governance. Validated through analytical triangulation, the findings detail severe challenges in communication, resource management, and damage assessments. The study concludes that enhancing community resilience requires moving beyond theoretical recognition to the formal integration of hyper-local actors, such as mukhtars, into centralized disaster governance, supported by clear legal and institutional frameworks.