A statistical analysis of the effects on survivors of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey

In the 17 August 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake about 20,000 people died and 3,000,000 were affected either directly or indirectly. A survey of earthquake victims in Kocaeli and Adapazari (two cities in North-Western Turkey) was conducted 8 months after this major earthquake to find out its physically and psychologically destructive effects. For this purpose a questionnaire containing 25 questions was given to 800 people in Kocaeli and Adapazari where the most destruction and greatest number of deaths occurred. Results indicate that changes in expectations from life after an earthquake are highly correlated with gender, marital status, and education level.