How Long Can Trapped Earthquake Victims Survive? Survival Factors Explained
Earthquakes do not kill people— collapsing buildings and debris do. The greatest danger lies in the violent shaking that converts everyday environments into life-threatening hazards.
When buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure weaken and give out, they become the driving cause of fatalities and injuries. But for those who endure the initial tremors only to find themselves trapped beneath rubble, a harrowing question emerges— how long can they hold on?
The answer relies on several factors but showcases the remarkable resilience of the human body and spirit.
What is the Longest Someone Has Survived in an Earthquake?
Most rescues occur within the first 24 hours after a seismic event as emergency responders and civilian volunteers race against the clock to uncover life beneath the debris. Although the average window of survival drastically shrinks after the first few days, there are cases of victims emerging alive after obscene amounts of time buried beneath the devastation.
Experts say victims can survive for a week or longer. The longest confirmed survival time following an earthquake is 14 days. Anecdotal reports suggest longer durations, making this a topic of ongoing discussion and study.
Factors That Impact Earthquake Survival
The critical elements that impact an individual's survival after an earthquake include:
Access to Water: Generally, a person can survive three days without water intake. Of course, factors such as health conditions, extreme temperatures, and activity level can extend or reduce this timeframe. Any source of moisture, however small, is essential to extend survival time.
Air Supply: The most vital component to survival is a constant supply of breathable air. Small pockets of air can be the difference between life and death.
Injuries: Severe physical wounds and internal injuries sustained during the earthquake will significantly reduce survival odds.
Weather & Temperature: Extreme temperatures, either heat or intense cold, will accelerate physical deterioration and reduce chances of survival.
Mental Resilience: The intensity of a person's will to live plays a significant factor in survival. One's ability to remain calm and focused can increase the chances of survival.
Extent of Rescue Efforts: The intensity and speed of rescue efforts are essential as the likelihood of survival reduces drastically in the few days following a seismic event.
Structural Damage: The way a building collapses plays a role in survival. Open areas within the rubble are ideal, while being trapped in areas with tightly compressed debris makes survival unlikely.
Cases of Prolonged Survival
Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Hakan Yasinoglu was trapped for 278 hours (~11 days) after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck on February 6, 2023. The seismic event resulted in at least 41,020 deaths in Turkey and an additional 5,800 in Syria.
Rescue efforts were put into effect quickly after the earthquake— several survivors were pulled from the rubble in the days following the violent tremors. A 17-year-old girl, Aleyna Ölmez, received the nickname "the miracle girl" after being trapped beneath the rubble for 248 hours (~10 days).
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: An 80-year-old woman and her teenage grandson were discovered by rescue teams nine days after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake erupted in the Pacific Ocean on March 11, 2011— consequently triggering a tsunami. The underwater seismic event caused the loss of nearly 20,000 lives.
Haiti Earthquake: A large-scale, 7.0 magnitude quake shook Haiti on January 12, 2010, quickly followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 5.9 and 5.5. The likes of which had not been experienced on the island since the 18th century. An estimated 300,000 lives were lost, and the event displaced more than a million people.
Fifteen days after the devastating event, a 16-year-old girl was rescued from the rubble in Port-Au-Prine. This rescue gained international attention and initiated further discussion about the potential for extended survival.
Essential Survival Strategies for Earthquake Aftermath: Tips for Staying Safe
There is currently no scientific method or technology capable of predicting when and where earthquakes will occur. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) can provide insights into which regions have an increased risk of seismic activity based on past events and can also issue aftershock forecasts. However, accurate quake forecasting requires data we do not have access to.
Although many organizations aspire to change this fact, the unpredictability of these natural disasters does initiate a need to prepare for the regions with higher risk of these events.
How to Prepare for an Earthquake
Pre-quake preparation is essential to increase survival chances for those in higher-risk regions:
Drop, Cover, Hold: Practice and memorize protection techniques such as the drop, cover, and hold-on method with friends and family members.
Develop an Emergency Plan: Plan an emergency communication plan with your family and ensure you have an out-of-state contact. Identifying a location to meet in case you are separated from loved ones may also benefit your preparation.
Make an Emergency Supply Kit: Include non-perishable foods, water, a whistle, flashlights, batteries, a fire extinguisher, a multi-purpose tool, and first aid supplies—access to these items when in duress can be the difference between life and death.
Protect the Home: Secure heavier items such as refrigerators, bookcases, and televisions and store heftier or breakable items on low shelves. Consider regular inspections and home improvements to identify and fix structural issues that may cause your home or building to collapse during tremors.
Identify Safe Areas: Locate safe places in your home or everyday environments you can get to quickly during an earthquake. Experts recommend spaces away from outer walls, windows, hanging objects, or fireplaces, such as under a sturdy table, desk, or interior hallway.
Actions to Take During an Earthquake
The sudden, rapid shaking of the ground can happen anywhere without warning. If you find yourself in a seismic event, you must take action to protect yourself immediately:
If you are indoors, stay indoors. Avoid doorways, and do not run outside.
If you are in a car, pull over and engage your parking brake.
If you are in bed, lie face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
If you are outside, stay outside. Experts recommend moving away from buildings, powerlines, streetlights, and trees if possible.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On: regardless of where you find yourself when the earth begins to rattle, drop to your hands and knees and grasp onto something sturdy until the shaking stops. Cover your head and neck with your arms to protect against falling debris. Crawl to seek shelter beneath a sturdy table, desk, or interior hallway if no other shelter is available.
What to do After an Earthquake
Weakened, damaged, or collapsed buildings, damaged power lines, and leaking gas and water lines are just a few of the hazards one can expect after a major earthquake. As a general rule of thumb, you must remain calm and evaluate your injuries and environment. Depending on where you are and the intensity of the quake, post-earthquake actions may include:
Prepare for Aftershocks: First and foremost, anticipate aftershocks. The stronger the quake, the more likely you are to experience aftershocks in the minutes, days, or weeks following a major seismic event.
Evaluate Tsunami Risk: If you are in a coastal area with tsunami risk, move inland and reach higher ground as quickly as possible. Tsunamis can occur minutes to hours after a powerful quake.
Call Attention to Yourself if Trapped: Remain calm to conserve energy and protect your nose, eyes, and mouth from dust. If possible, text or call family members or emergency services, bang on a wall or pipe, or use a whistle to attract the attention of rescue efforts.
Assess Injuries: Clean and care for wounds to prevent infection if possible. If you are uninjured, try to help others in need.
Conserve Resources: Consider and ration any available food, water, and medical supplies.
Earthquake Survival: Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a human survive in an earthquake?
Experts say a person can survive a week or more if trapped beneath the rubble following a quake. Factors that impact survival include access to food, water, and consistent breathable air. Severe injuries and extreme temperatures can reduce survival chances.
What is the best way to survive an earthquake?
Seek protection immediately. Identify a safe location, such as under a sturdy table or desk if indoors or an area away from buildings, trees, and powerlines if caught outdoors. Drop to your hands and knees and cover your head and neck with your arms to protect from falling debris.
Is a 9.9 earthquake possible?
Theoretically, an earthquake with a magnitude of 10 or greater is possible. It is highly unlikely to occur due to the lack of fault lines large enough to exert the amount of energy necessary to initiate such an event.
Where do 90% of the world's earthquakes occur?
The Circum-Pacific belt, known as the "ring of fire" surrounding the Pacific, accounts for about 90% of earthquakes worldwide.
What should be in a survival kit for an earthquake?
Essentials to put in your earthquake survival kit include three to seven days' worth of non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered radio, batteries, a flashlight, a whistle, a fire extinguisher, and medical supplies.
Is it better to be upstairs or downstairs during an earthquake?
Experts recommend staying where you are when tremors start to rattle the ground. Seek a sturdy table or desk to hide underneath until the tremors subside.
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