In URM collapses, where are victims most frequently located?

In unreinforced masonry (URM) collapses, victims are most frequently located outside, adjacent to walls. This phenomenon occurs due to the nature of how URM structures fail during an event such as an earthquake or blast.

When a URM building collapses, the walls may fail, causing the brick or block materials to fall outward from the structure. As a result, individuals who may have been near the walls at the time of the collapse often find themselves caught in the debris or may be thrown into adjacent areas as the masonry falls. This positioning outside the building is informed by the mechanics of the collapse, where the weight of the masonry pulls it away from the structure, leading to victims being found in the zones closest to the impacted walls rather than buried under the rubble or deeper within the site.

Understanding this behavior helps rescuers to focus their search efforts in the areas with the highest likelihood of finding victims, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of rescue operations in URM collapse scenarios.