The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for stronger earthquake preparedness as health ministers and senior officials gathered in Istanbul to strengthen the resilience of health systems against future seismic disasters. The high-level conference comes three years after the devastating 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes and amid scientific warnings that Istanbul could face a major earthquake in the coming decades.
Around 200 participants, including eight health ministers from the WHO African, European, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific regions, attended the event hosted by the Government of Türkiye and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The meeting focused on improving emergency preparedness, protecting healthcare infrastructure, and enhancing international cooperation before future disasters occur.
Experts highlighted that earthquakes remain the deadliest natural hazard, accounting for more than half of all deaths caused by natural disasters worldwide between 2000 and 2023. Research published in 2025 indicates that a fault beneath the Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul is capable of generating a magnitude 7 earthquake, with scientists estimating a 40–60% probability of such an event occurring over the coming decades.
The conference also emphasized that seismic risks extend beyond Türkiye. Countries including Greece, Italy, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the South Caucasus face significant earthquake threats, while many hospitals and healthcare facilities across the region remain vulnerable to major seismic events.
Discussions drew heavily on lessons learned from the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes, which claimed more than 53,000 lives in Türkiye, injured over 107,000 people, displaced millions, and damaged at least 15 hospitals. The disaster demonstrated how damaged healthcare facilities can severely limit emergency response when medical services are needed most.
Beyond immediate injuries, WHO highlighted the long-term health impacts of earthquakes, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, mental health disorders, and the ongoing need for rehabilitation services. Emergency responders themselves also experienced significant physical and psychological challenges during the response.
The conference concluded with an outcome statement urging countries to strengthen earthquake resilience by constructing hospitals to seismic safety standards, retrofitting existing healthcare facilities, ensuring backup power and water supplies, maintaining rapid-response medical teams, conducting regular emergency simulations, improving cross-border coordination, and protecting vulnerable populations during disasters.
WHO stressed that investing in resilient healthcare infrastructure before disasters strike can significantly reduce loss of life and ensure health systems continue operating when communities need them most.
