ICJEM
Intercontinental Journal of Emergency Medicine

The Intercontinental Journal of Emergency Medicine aims to publish issues related to all fields of emergency medicine and all specialties involved in the management of emergencies in the hospital and prehospital environment of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level and accepts articles on these topics.

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Original Article
Temporal and regional patterns of aeromedical evacuation after the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes
Abstract
Aims: To assess the demographic and clinical profiles of earthquake survivors airlifted after the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and to examine the temporal and regional patterns of aeromedical transfers in the initial 20 days post-disaster.
Methods: This descriptive retrospective analysis utilized data from the Emergency Health Automation System concerning patients evacuated by fixed-wing and helicopter air ambulances. Descriptive statistics were used to look at demographic information, reasons for transfer, type of air ambulance, provinces sending and receiving patients, and daily transfer distribution.
Results: Fixed-wing aircraft transported 2,248 patients, while helicopters transported 333. Adults (≥18 years) accounted for 69.4% of fixed-wing and 62.8% of helicopter transfers, with a balanced sex distribution. In the early post-earthquake phase, transfers were predominantly related to severe trauma, including crush injuries and surgical emergencies. In subsequent days, non-traumatic conditions-particularly cardiovascular, neurological, and infectious diagnoses-became more prominent. Most fixed-wing evacuations originated from Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Adana, with receiving centers concentrated in Ankara and İstanbul. Helicopter retrievals were initially clustered in Kahramanmaraş and later shifted to Hatay, while Adana emerged as the most frequent destination. Overall, transfer patterns reflected a temporal shift from acute trauma evacuation to broader medical referral needs.
Conclusion: Aeromedical evacuations were influenced by changing clinical priorities and limitations in regional healthcare capability. The coordinated employment of fixed-wing and helicopter systems allowed for quick patient redistribution, showing how important it is to have flexible transfer planning and integrated command structures in large-scale disasters.

Keywords : Earthquake, aeromedical evacuation, mass casualty incident, disaster response, emergency medical services

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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 53-58
https://doi.org/10.51271/ICJEM-0080
Article Information
Received : 16 Nis 2026
Accepted : 03 Tem 2026
Published : 19 Eyl 2026
Corresponding Author :

Emrah Arı: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mamak State Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Arı E, Çınar E, Usul E, Yorulmaz Ş, Dost Bilmez K. Temporal and regional patterns of aeromedical evacuation after the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Intercont J Emerg Med. 2026;4(3):53-58. doi:10.51271/ICJEM-0080

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