The Challenges Experienced by Emergency Medical Services Workers in a Massive Disaster Due to Resource Scarcity—the Case of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explain the challenges experienced by Emergency Medical Services workers in a massive disaster due to resource scarcity. METHODS: In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 Emergency Medical Services workers in the region within the first 72 hours of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes. Participants were determined by snowball sampling method, and data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. Collected data were evaluated using descriptive and content analysis methods. RESULTS: When the data were analyzed, the difficulties experienced by the participants were covered in two main themes and eight sub-themes. The main themes were physical and managerial challenges, and the sub-themes were nutrition, shelter and adverse weather conditions, hygiene, safety, sleep shortage and exhaustion, operational, logistics and transportation, communication and coordination. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that challenges in meeting the basic physical needs of Emergency Medical Services workers during massive disasters may reduce the overall effectiveness of response efforts. Ensuring their physical safety, particularly in large-scale earthquakes that cause severe structural damage, emerges as a persistent concern. Disaster preparedness efforts should more carefully consider the fragility and vulnerability of high-risk zones when developing national response plans.