single-dr.php

JDR Vol.20 No.2 pp. 206-214
(2025)
doi: 10.20965/jdr.2025.p0206

Paper:

Crisis Communication in Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: An Evaluation of Turkish Red Crescent’s Communication Centre (KİMER) Calls During the Disaster

Kerem Kinik*,† ORCID Icon, Cüneyt Çalışkan* ORCID Icon, Hüseyin Koçak* ORCID Icon, and Fatma Meriç Yılmaz**,*** ORCID Icon

*Department of Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, University of Health Sciences
Mekteb-i Tıbbiyye-i Şâhane (Haydarpaşa) Külliyesi, Selimiye District, Tıbbiye Street No.38, Üsküdar, İstanbul , Türkiye

Corresponding author

**Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University
Ankara, Türkiye

***Turkish Red Crescent Society
Ankara, Türkiye

Received:
April 10, 2024
Accepted:
January 19, 2025
Published:
April 1, 2025
Keywords:
crisis communication, disaster management, Turkish Red Crescent, earthquake response, public health emergencies
Abstract

This study examines the pivotal role of the Turkish Red Crescent Communication Centre (KİMER) during the February 6, 2023, earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye—termed as the “disaster of the century.” Employing a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological analysis, the research focuses on KİMER’s crisis communication efforts, analyzing the volume and nature of calls to KİMER’s Call Centre and assessing their impact on disaster management. Data extracted from KİMER’s database from February 6 to December 15, 2023, alongside operational reports and interviews with staff and volunteers, form the basis of both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Findings indicate KİMER addressed over 1.1 million requests through diverse channels, including call centers, social media, and chatbots, showcasing a high degree of adaptability and efficiency. Geographic analysis of requests underscores the direct correlation between disaster impact and assistance demand, highlighting the importance of targeted response strategies. The predominance of information-seeking calls reveals a critical need for timely, accurate communication during crises. The study emphasizes the efficacy of KİMER’s digital platforms and specialized support for vulnerable groups, suggesting enhancements in digital tool usage and geographically focused plans for future disaster management. Ultimately, this research underscores the significance of comprehensive, adaptable communication strategies in disaster response, offering insights for improving crisis management frameworks in Türkiye and potentially in similar contexts globally.

KİMER calls during the disaster

KİMER calls during the disaster

Cite this article as:
K. Kinik, C. Çalışkan, H. Koçak, and F. Yılmaz, “Crisis Communication in Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: An Evaluation of Turkish Red Crescent’s Communication Centre (KİMER) Calls During the Disaster,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.20 No.2, pp. 206-214, 2025.
Data files:
References
  1. [1] Y. Altinok and Ş. Ersoy, “Tsunamis observed on and near the Turkish Coast,” Natural Hazards, Vol.21, Nos.2-3, pp. 185-205, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008155117243
  2. [2] T. E. Drabek and D. A. McEntire, “Emergent phenomena and the sociology of disaster: Lessons, trends and opportunities from the research literature,” Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 97-112, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560310474214
  3. [3] E. L. Quarantelli, “Disaster crisis management: A summary of research findings,” J. of Management Studies, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 373-385, 1988. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1467-6486.1988.TB00043.X
  4. [4] İ. Kocaman, “The effect of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes (Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6) on historical masonry mosques and minarets,” Engineering Failure Analysis, Vol.149, Article No.107225, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107225
  5. [5] J. B. Houston et al., “Social media and disasters: A functional framework for social media use in disaster planning, response, and research,” Disasters, Vol.39, No.1, pp. 1-22, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12092
  6. [6] L. A. Peek and J. N. Sutton, “An exploratory comparison of disasters, riots and terrorist acts,” Disasters, Vol.27, No.4, pp. 319-335, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0361-3666.2003.00236.x
  7. [7] M. K. Lindell and R. W. Perry, “Communicating Environmental Risk in Multiethnic Communities,” Sage Publications, 2004. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452229188
  8. [8] A. Sudo, T. Kashiyama, T. Yabe, H. Kanasugi, and Y. Sekimoto, “Human mobility estimation following massive disaster using filtering approach,” J. Disaster Res., Vol.11, No.2, pp. 217-224, 2016. https://doi.org/10.20965/jdr.2016.p0217

*This site is desgined based on HTML5 and CSS3 for modern browsers, e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera.

Last updated on Apr. 24, 2025