Earthquake disaster in Turkey

The pre-disaster medical facilities in Adapazari had consisted of two
fully equipped hospitals: The Social Security Hospital, SSK, of 350 beds
and the State Hospital of 400 beds. A trauma center of 50 beds and one
maternity and pediatric hospital of 150 beds. Small district health houses
provided primary outpatient care services. According to government
officials, the health facilities of the city were superior to those of an
average Anatolian city.

During the first days after the earthquake the medical staff of Adapazari
was only partially functioning. Many medical personnel were buried under
the rubble, rescuing their dear ones and belongings, burying their dead or
simply in shock. The continuing after shocks and the fear of further
collapse prevented any in-door medical services, even in buildings only
slightly damaged and authorized for use by the city engineer. Therefore
all existing treatment was provided outdoors. Collapse of the electricity
and telephone networks caused lack of collaboration between the existing
medical facilities themselves. Even neighbouring medical forces were not
aware Of the provided services of each other. Lack of piped water and
working sewage system complicated the function of the existing facilities
risking the outbreak of epidemic diseases such as cholera and other
gastrointestinal infections. External help, which started ariving after
the second day, also needed time to start functioning.

The local health services regained their capabilities gradually. The
Social Security Hospital supplied medical services right away albeit with
limited capacity. The trauma center, which was not damaged, started
functioning on day 3 after the disaster. Teams of qualified personnel from
the medical faculties and state hospitals were sent from all over Turkey
and gradually joined the forces. "Tent hospitals" like the "tent cities",
sheltered people for long periods of time.
The medical transportation system: The local ambulance services were
almost unaffected by the earthquake. Ambulances from other cities joined
in transporting casualties. The total number of ambulances gradually
increased to 60, most of them equipped with radio communication
facilities. The medical evacuation was controled by the crisis center
established in the governor's building and managed by the governor. The
health administration was managed by a regional health minister who was
instructed by The Ministry of Health in Ankara as well as the local
governor. On day 2, airborne evacuations started to backup the field
hospitals. The heliports were situated in sport stadium in the region.
Quick medical transfers were very crucial to the critically ill patients
as well as to the health system dealing with new coming patients.

Medical teams, as well as rescue services, from numerous countries
were posted in the region and provided medical aid. These came from
Canada, Japan, Egypt, Algiers and U.S.A. The main problem at this stage
was the limited coordination between these teams.