To examine the frequency, distribution, and human impact (specifically fatalities and injuries) of geophysical and hydrological hazard-related disasters in Europe from 2000 to 2025.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT, CRED/UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium) records. Included events were earthquakes, volcanic activity, dry mass movements, floods, wet mass movements, and wave action. Deaths and injuries were summarized descriptively and compared using appropriate statistical tests.

A total of 566 events were identified, of which 510 (90.1%) were hydrological and 56 (9.9%) geophysical. Floods were the most frequent events (n = 492), while earthquakes ranked second overall (n = 52). Southern Europe recorded the highest number of deaths, whereas Eastern Europe had the highest number of injuries. Overall, the examined events caused 3,547 deaths and 14,470 injuries. Median deaths did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.791), while median injuries were higher in geophysical events (P = 0.036).

In Europe, hydrological hazard-related emergency events were more common than geophysical hazard-related emergency events. However, most fatalities and injuries resulted from a few severe floods and earthquakes with distinct geographic patterns. Because event frequency does not directly reflect harm to humans, these findings further highlight the importance of an all-hazard approach to emergency planning; disaster preparedness should align resilience strategies with regional hazard profiles, population vulnerability, and health-system capacity.

To compare dermatologic outpatient diagnostic frequencies before and after the February 6, 2023 Hatay earthquake and to evaluate the implications of these temporal changes for disaster-responsive dermatologic care.

This retrospective study compared tertiary-center dermatology outpatient diagnosis records from the pre-earthquake (February 6, 2021-February 3, 2023) and post-earthquake (May 11, 2023-February 6, 2025) periods. Diagnoses were classified into 18 categories and 69 ICD-10-coded subdiagnoses. Logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and calendar month using patient-clustered robust standard errors; aORs with 95% CIs and FDR-adjusted q values were reported.

Among 41,012 diagnosis records, 19,646 were from the pre-earthquake period and 21,366 from the post-earthquake period. After adjustment, infestations/insect bites were more frequently represented in the post-earthquake diagnostic mix (aOR 2.55, q < 0.001). Dermatitis (aOR 1.17, q < 0.001), bacterial diseases (aOR 1.58, q < 0.001), environmentally induced diseases (aOR 1.51, q = 0.003), and sexually transmitted diseases (aOR 1.50, q < 0.001) were also more frequently represented. Acneiform disorders were less frequently represented (aOR 0.61, q < 0.001). Despite a crude increase, fungal infections did not differ significantly in the adjusted analysis (aOR 1.04, q = 0.149).

Post-earthquake records showed more infestations and selected infectious and environmentally related diagnoses, but lower representation of some chronic disorders. These clinic-based associations support dermatologic surveillance, infection control, and continuity of care in disaster planning without implying population-level prevalence changes or causal earthquake effects.

On 6 February 2023, sequential Mw 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes devastated 11 provinces in Türkiye. Two years on, the Emergency Medicine Association of Türkiye (EMAT) assessed recovery from an emergency department (ED) perspective.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of emergency physicians and residents in the most affected provinces (Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya).

Respondents were predominantly male (81.1%) and residents (70.3%). Family routines had partly stabilized (48.6%), yet ongoing household mental-health problems were common (54.1%). Housing remained strained: most homes were slightly damaged (59.5%); 13.5% of physicians continued to live in temporary shelters. Concerns persisted about hospital structural safety (59.4%). Equipment issues centered on delayed maintenance/repair (64.9%). ED operations suffered from crowding (70.3%), workload related to staffing gaps (67.6%), and inadequate physical space (56.8%). Academic activity was disrupted (51.4%), with perceived declines in educational standards versus non-affected provinces (40.5%).

Two years post-earthquake, substantial deficits persist across infrastructure, workforce, equipment maintenance, psychosocial well-being, and training. EMAT recommends coordinated actions on structural safety, supply chains, psychosocial support, durable housing, academic workforce recovery, governance/coordination, targeted financial incentives, and continuous monitoring to restore resilient, high-quality emergency care in the region.

This study aimed to examine breastfeeding continuity and the factors influencing breastfeeding among women whose breastfeeding period overlapped with the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, on February 6, 2023.

This descriptive study was conducted in tent and container settlements established in earthquake-affected areas. The sample included 217 women who were breastfeeding at the time of the disaster. Data were collected using a structured form addressing sociodemographic, obstetric, and breastfeeding-related variables. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were applied in accordance with the STROBE guidelines.

The mean age of participants was 28.45 ± 5.45 years; most were unemployed (95.4%) and reported that their income was lower than their expenses (78.8%). Before the earthquake, 59.0% of the women exclusively breastfed, whereas this rate decreased to 30.9% after the disaster. The most common facilitators were mothers’ motivation to keep their infants alive (29.5%) and access to transportation (20.3%). The primary barriers were unmet basic needs (30.4%), lack of privacy (22.6%), and psychological distress (21.7%). Overall, 67.3% of the women emphasized that meeting basic needs was essential for continuing breastfeeding, while only 17.5% reported receiving breastfeeding counseling.

This study revealed significant barriers to health care access among breastfeeding women following a major disaster. The findings highlight the necessity of incorporating breastfeeding women into disaster preparedness and response plans. Disaster interventions should prioritize safe environments, psychosocial support, and professional counseling to ensure breastfeeding continuity. Protecting breastfeeding must be recognized as a strategic public health priority within disaster preparedness and response.

This study examined the relationship between food safety, food access, and nutritional status among earthquake victims in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, Türkiye.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted face-to-face with 209 earthquake victims in 2023.

The median age was 42 years, and 52.6% were female. Among women, the perception of unhealthy food, inadequate mass feeding services, and dissatisfaction with meals increased the risk of food safety concerns. In men, those with an associate degree or higher were 20.7 times more likely to perceive food safety as inadequate, while the perception of unhealthy food raised this risk by 12.4 times. Lack of access to sufficient drinking water increased the risk of food inaccessibility by 2.6 times among women. In men, employment and dissatisfaction with meals increased this risk by 2.7 and 2.8 times, respectively. Both genders exhibited inadequate intake of water, energy, protein, polyunsaturated fats, fiber, folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and several vitamins (P <0.05), while phosphorus and sodium levels were elevated (P <0.01).

Food safety and access issues were critical among earthquake victims, significantly impacting nutritional status. Findings emphasize the need for improved emergency food aid and distribution systems to mitigate post-disaster nutritional risks.

This study aims to elucidate the ethical dilemmas faced by pre-hospital emergency medical service personnel during disaster triage, with a specific focus on the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes, and to document their experiences.

This phenomenological study employed semi-structured interviews with 29 pre-hospital emergency medical service workers who served during the first 72 hours of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes to gather qualitative data. Purposeful sampling was used for face-to-face interviews, and MAXQDA20 was utilized for content analysis.

The main themes encompassed problems related to disaster management organization, environmental factors, and individual factors. Environmental factors, such as coordination deficiencies at the scene, jurisdictional confusion, security concerns, and seasonal conditions, as well as personal factors including education and experience, were pivotal in the occurrence of ethical dilemmas in disaster triage.

Pre-hospital emergency medical services personnel affected by the disaster faced more ethical dilemmas. The presence of many affected children had a profound emotional impact on participants, leading to more frequent ethical dilemmas, particularly in the application of black code protocols.

Following natural disasters nurses assume a critical role in the provision of primary health care services in container cities. This study aims to reveal the experiences of nurses who voluntarily provided primary health care services in the container city constructed after the earthquake.

This study was conducted using a qualitative study design, and reported following the COREQ guidelines. Interviews were conducted with 9 volunteer nurses between January 11-29, 2024. Study data were collected using a “Personal Information Form” and “Semi-Structured Questionnaire” via in-depth interview technique. Collected data were analyzed with a 6-step thematic analysis method.

Five main themes were featured in the study: “Factors affecting participation in volunteer activities,” “Scope of volunteer services,” “Challenges experienced in volunteer activities,” “Achievements of volunteer activities,” and “Suggestions for improving volunteer services.”

Volunteer nurses have experienced various gains, as well as difficulties, as a result of their container city experiences. Suggestions for improving disaster nursing are instructive in terms of strengthening disaster nursing.

Comprising the largest group of health care professionals, nurses play a great role and assume many responsibilities during disaster periods, when the public needs health care services the most. The aim of this study was to reveal the experiences of nurses assigned to the disaster area during relief efforts after the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye.

This qualitative and descriptive study used the maximum variation sampling method, one of the purposive sampling methods, and was completed with 20 nurses. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Four main themes emerged from the experiences of the nurses who provided health care services in the disaster area: experiences related to pre-mission processes, experiences during the mission, post-mission experiences, and recommendations for disaster preparedness.

Nurses’ experiences and suggestions revealed in this study may inform future disaster preparedness and disaster management plans, and this study’s results point to the need for the development of professional nursing skills in disaster management.

Disaster risk reduction measures are now being developed based on social vulnerability. This study aimed to identify socially vulnerable areas to disasters in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran.

The research utilized a mixed method approach conducted in 2 stages. First, a vulnerability index was created using 8 sub-indices, and the value of the index was calculated for each of the 91 rural districts in the study area. In the second stage, spatial analysis using Anselin’s Local Moran’s I was performed to identify the most vulnerable districts.

Results indicated that 40 of 91 districts, covering 49% of the total area, had high social vulnerability to disasters. Anselin’s Local Moran’s I analysis identified 2 high-high clusters consisting of 5 districts. The study also found that areas with higher social vulnerability were more susceptible to natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes.

Nearly half of the studied areas exhibited a high level of social vulnerability and were at risk of natural disasters. Implementing general measures to improve the socio-economic status of the population, such as increasing education and income levels, along with specific actions like assisting vulnerable populations in relocating to safer areas, can help mitigate disaster risks.