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The 1988 earthquake in Soviet Armenia: a case study
E K Noji1, G D Kelen, H K Armenian
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|August 1, 1990
Summary
The 1988 Armenian earthquake caused high casualties. Survival was significantly higher for those outside or who escaped collapsing structures, emphasizing the critical need for rapid rescue efforts.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Medicine
- Public Health
- Seismology
Background:
- A devastating earthquake struck the Armenian Republic on December 7, 1988.
- The event resulted in thousands of fatalities and injuries, necessitating immediate post-disaster assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate earthquake-related injury patterns in affected towns.
- To observe and analyze rescue and medical efforts following the disaster.
- To identify factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a post-earthquake investigation in three severely impacted towns.
- Gathered information from official Soviet documents, survivor interviews, and government officials.
- Utilized field assessments made by officials in the immediate aftermath.
Main Results:
- A casualty rate of 64.0% was observed in one town (49.4% deaths, 14.6% injured).
- Trapped victims experienced mortality and injury rates 67 and 11 times higher, respectively, than non-trapped individuals.
- 89% of survivors were rescued within the first 24 hours, often without heavy equipment.
Conclusions:
- Being outside or escaping a collapsing structure was crucial for survival.
- Swift rescuer response within the initial 24 hours is vital for maximizing survival rates.
- Preliminary findings suggest hypotheses for further, more sophisticated research into disaster response and injury patterns.