A study on citizens' satisfaction with municipalities after the earthquake: The example of Battalgazi Municipality

Local governments play a critical role in meeting the basic needs of citizens, ensuring the continuity of public services, and re-establishing social order during extraordinary situations such as disasters. Particularly in countries with high earthquake risk like Turkey, the effectiveness of municipalities in pre-disaster preparedness, disaster response, and post-disaster recovery processes can directly shape the functioning of public administration.This study aims to examine the effectiveness and service quality of municipal services provided in Battalgazi district of Malatya province following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. Within the scope of the research, the post-disaster service delivery capacity of local governments, citizen satisfaction, and expectations are addressed contextually.In this study, Battalgazi Municipality was selected as the sample, and a quantitative research method was employed to measure citizens' perceptions of municipal services after the disaster. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical analysis techniques and interpreted through the dimensions of service quality, trust, accessibility, and institutional adequacy. The findings indicate that coordination, transparency, and a citizen-oriented approach significantly affect service satisfaction in post-disaster processes in many cases.The results of the research provide important implications for strengthening the disaster management capacity of local governments, improving service delivery processes, and sustainably enhancing citizen–municipality relations.