First responders' experiences with major earthquakes in Türkiye: a qualitative study of innovation needs and challenges.

Background: The response phase is a phase of disaster management that begins when a disaster occurs. The experience of the First Responders who responded in the first days to the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which killed more than fifty thousand people, is expected to inform and add value to the preparations for subsequent disasters.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used; focus group interviews were conducted with 15 first responders (8 fire fighters and 7 medical personnel) that responded in the first moments of the devastating Kahramanmaraş and Hatay earthquakes. The interviews conducted in June 2023. A qualitative approach with the thematic analysis method was employed.

Results: Based on the analyses the research six main themes and 13 subthemes were identified. The identified themes were resources, needs, collaboration, innovation, disaster management and challenges. The participants emphasized the need for better communication tools, protective equipment, and technologies such as drones and advanced sensors to enhance disaster response efforts. The findings also highlight the critical role of collaboration between different organizations and the necessity for integrated disaster management practices and applications. The findings obtained from the views of experienced first responders will inspire national and international disaster crisis managers, policy makers and technology providers to develop more effective disaster response methods. Through technological solutions and better training, the safety and effectiveness of first responders can be significantly improved in future disaster scenarios.

Conclusions: This study fills an important gap in the literature by investigating the innovation needs and challenges faced by first responders during the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. In this study, the gap analysis was determined through interviews conducted with teams that responded to the 2023 major Turkey earthquake in the initial hours following the disaster. These findings are of significant value in guiding the improvement of the approaches and development of technological products in the field of disaster management.