Scientific response to the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake: A bibliometric study

On February 6, 2023, Türkiye experienced two devastating earthquakes with epicenters in Pazarcık and Elbistan, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale. These earthquakes resulted in over 50,000 deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The disaster triggered a large-scale humanitarian crisis, presenting significant medical and psychological challenges. Understanding the scientific response to such events is crucial for enhancing future disaster preparedness and management.

A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science database using the terms "Kahramanmaraş earthquake," "Pazarcık earthquake," "Elbistan earthquake," and "Türkiye earthquake 2023." The search covered literature published from February 6, 2023 onward, and focused on medical publications. A total of 371 articles were initially identified; after excluding geological, engineering, and social science studies, 350 articles were included. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the Bibliometrix package in R Studio and visualized with Biblioshiny. Key indicators analyzed included publication volume, citation count, author collaboration, and thematic clustering.

The analysis identified 350 articles published in 173 journals, with contributions from 1,739 authors. The average number of co-authors per document was 6.03, indicating a high level of collaboration. However, only 5.429% of the studies involved international authors. The annual growth rate of publications was -11.11%, suggesting a projected decline in research activity. The most cited article was Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey Disaster Committee Summary of Field Observations of February 6th Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes, which emphasized the challenges faced in emergency response. Psychological studies were more numerous; however, publications related to emergency response and trauma care received higher citation counts. Keyword analysis revealed a focus on trauma care, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), surgical management, and public health. Notable clinical advancements included the SAFE-QUAKE (Seismic Activity Forecasting and Evaluation-QUAKE) scoring system for predicting dialysis needs and the Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) for amputation triage.

The research response to the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes followed a clear progression: an early focus on emergency response and public health, followed by injury and surgical management, and a later emphasis on psychological recovery. Despite a strong domestic research effort, low international collaboration hindered broader knowledge exchange. Sustained funding, enhanced global partnerships, and integrated mental health and trauma care strategies are essential for improving future disaster preparedness and healthcare system resilience.