According to emergency rescue experts, a person can survive under rubble for up to one week under the best conditions.
Turkish rescue teams pulling survivors from the rubble after the earthquake. (Photo: AP).
Even when victims are injured, the availability of breathable air and weather conditions are crucial factors for survival.
“Food is not a major issue, as humans can survive for weeks without it. However, individuals can only last a few days without water,” Dr. Richard Moon, a survival expert from Duke University, told the AP news agency.
Julie Ryan, coordinator for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) based in the UK, believes that the ideal conditions for anyone trapped under rubble include access to any source of oxygen from the outside and access to water.
Temperature also plays a role. If the trapped area is too hot, victims may dehydrate more quickly, reducing their chances of survival.
Trapped victims may also suffer from crush syndrome, which occurs after a “crushing” injury to the skeletal muscles. When a person is trapped after a disaster, their arms, limbs, and other body parts can be compressed by rubble, leading to muscle swelling or nerve disorders. The ultimate result can lead to kidney failure and death. Cases like this require immediate medical support right after rescue.
