Earthquakes Impact

Health threats due to earthquakes can vary according the magnitude of the earthquake, the nature of the built environment (such as poor housing or urban slums), and the secondary effects of the earthquake, like tsunamis or landslides. Earthquakes can have immediate and long-term impacts on health.

Immediate health impacts include:

trauma-related deaths and injuries from building collapse;
trauma-related deaths and injuries from the secondary effects of the earthquake, like drowning from tsunamis or burns from fires.
Medium-term health impacts include:

secondary infection of untreated wounds;
increased morbidity and risk of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth due to interrupted obstetric and neonatal services;
potential risk of communicable diseases, particularly in areas affected by overcrowding;
increased morbidity and risk of complications of chronic diseases due to interruption of treatment;
increased psychosocial needs;
potential environmental contamination by chemical/radiological agents following destruction of industrial infrastructure.
Earthquakes can also damage health facilities and transportation, which can disrupt service delivery and access to care. Health workers may not be able to reach health facilities that are still functional and medical supplies may be lost