Insufficiency of spatial distribution of emergency services and its impact on exacerbating urban seismic vulnerability (case study:Najaf Abad city)

Context: Tectonic features of our country has addressed the earthquake as one of the most destructive and distress factors of the human life so that Iran is considered having very big earthquakes with long recurrent periods and in fact, no part of our country is safe from this hazard. Regarding this issue, evaluating the cities' seismic vulnerability and studying the mode and status of emergency services distribution are very important. Subjects and Methods: In this survey, in addition to definite a model for vulnerability, the vulnerability of Najaf Abad city has been evaluated by multiple criteria decision making and analytical hierarchy process. Moreover, the present inadequacy in the status of emergency services distribution and its undesired impacts especially when occurring the crisis were studied using spatial analysis. Results: The results indicate that the central part of the city holding an area of 340 hectares is exposed to high vulnerability due to the present of the buildings with low durable materials. In addition, inappropriate distribution of fire stations across the city, shortage of hospital in relation to the population and lack of 24-h clinics in Villashahr, Amir Abad, and Azadegan counties holding around 60,000 populations make the vulnerability double when disaster or crisis occurs. Conclusions: Insufficiency of the spatial distribution of emergency services and shortage of them can aggravate the vulnerability upon occurring the crisis.