THE 1988 EARTHQUAKE IN SOVIET ARMENIA - A CASE-STUDY

被引：89

作者：

NOJI, EK

KELEN, GD

ARMENIAN, HK

OGANESSIAN, A

JONES, NP

SIVERTSON, KT

机构：

[1] Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

[2] Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

[3] Department of Civil Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

[4] Computer Information Center, Ministry of Health, Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia

来源：

ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE | 1990年 / 19卷 / 08期

关键词：

earthquake; injury; prevention;

D O I：

10.1016/S0196-0644(05)81563-X

中图分类号：

R4 [临床医学];

学科分类号：

1002 ; 100602 ;

摘要：

A major earthquake devastated the Armenian Republic of the Soviet Union on December 7, 1988, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries. In a postearthquake investigation of three towns seriously affected by the earthquake, we studied earthquake-related injury patterns, made observations on rescue and medical efforts, and postulated certain factors associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Information was obtained from official Soviet documents, interviews with survivors of the earthquake, and interviews with local, regional, and national government officials. Figures were based on assessments made by these officials in the field in the immediate postearthquake period. Out of a population of 8,500, there were 4,202 (49.4%) deaths and 1,244 (14.6%) injured (casualty rate, 64.0%). Deaths and injuries were 67 and 11 times higher, respectively, among trapped than nontrapped victims. Being outside at the time of the earthquake or having escaped to the outside from the collapsing structure was crucial for survival. Among persons found alive, 89% were rescued during the first 24 hours, mostly without the use of heavy equipment. This observation underscores the importance of swift rescuer response. As with all field surveys after disasters, there were methodological limitations to this study due to chaotic postearthquake conditions. Accordingly, results must be approached with caution. Nonetheless, these preliminary observations are striking and have generated several new hypotheses for further investigations using more sophisticated analytic methods. © 1990 American College of Emergency Physicians.

引用

页码：891 / 897

页数：7

共 31 条

[1] Binder, Sanderson, The role of the epidemiologist in natural disasters, Ann Emerg Med, 16, pp. 1081-1084, (1987)
[2] Armenian, Methodologic issues in the epidemiologic studies of disasters, Proceedings of the International Workshop on Earthquake Injury Epidemiology: Implications for Mitigation and Response, pp. 95-106, (1989)
[3] Smith, Research issues in the epidemiology of injuries following earthquakes, Proceedings of the International Workshop on Earthquake Injury Epidemiology: Implications for Mitigation and Response, pp. 61-81, (1989)
[4] Noji, Evaluation of the efficacy of disaster response: Research at the Johns Hopkins University, UNDRO News, 4, pp. 11-13, (1987)
[5] Filson, Agbabian, Noji, Post-earthquake investigations of the December 7, 1988, Spitak Earthquake by the United States, Proceedings of the International Seminar on the Spitak Earthquake in Yerevan, Armenia, pp. 1-3, (1989)
[6] Filson, Borcherdt, Langer, Seismology, Earthquake Spectra, pp. 1-12, (1989)
[7] The December 7, 1988 Armenia, USSR Earthquake, pp. 1-48, (1989)
[8] Ambraseys, Adams, Long-term seismicity of north Armenia, EOS: Trans Am Geophys Union, 70, pp. 145-154, (1989)
[9] Sharp, Surface faulting A preliminary view, Earthquake Spectra, pp. 13-22, (1989)
[10] Filson, Tectonic setting and seismic setting for the main shock of December 7, 1988, Results and Data from Seismologic and Geologic Studies Following Earthquakes of December 7, 1988 Near Spitak, Armenia, SSR, USGS Open-File Report (89-163A), pp. 11-20, (1989)

← 1 2 3 4 →