Structural behavior of hospitals during the Kahramanmaraş earthquake of February 6, 2023

Abstract

On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes (Mw 7.8 and 7.5) occurred in Turkey. The earthquakes impacted 10 provinces in Turkey and others in Syria, resulting in significant casualties due to the total and partial collapse of many buildings. This article evaluates the impact of damage on the performance of healthcare services based on the investigation of seven hospitals. The observed damages in structural and non-structural elements identified during a post-earthquake inspection are presented and discussed in detail. When possible, interviews with hospital managers and staff members were conducted to understand the key decisions and possible rehabilitation activities after the earthquake. The study aims to improve knowledge of the seismic performance of hospitals and identifies aspects to improve the structural performance of healthcare infrastructure under severe seismic demands.