The small, grey house in southern Turkey that once looked out onto the road might appear untouched by last week’s huge earthquake but it is now one floor lower.
The small, grey house in southern Turkey that once looked out onto the road might appear untouched by last week’s huge earthquake but it is now one floor lower.
Surrounding the building in Demirkopru village, home to 1,000 people, are bits of debris floating in murky water, broken pavements and lopsided houses.
Surrounding the building in Demirkopru village, home to 1,000 people, are bits of debris floating in murky water, broken pavements and lopsided houses.
The February 6 earthquake and its aftershocks that ravaged swathes of Turkey and Syria and killed more than 44,000 people has split Demirkopru in two.
The February 6 earthquake and its aftershocks that ravaged swathes of Turkey and Syria and killed more than 44,000 people has split Demirkopru in two.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge
“The houses sank four metres (13 feet),” said Mahir Karatas, a 42-year-old farmer and owner of the grey house. “The ground went up and down.”
“The houses sank four metres (13 feet),” said Mahir Karatas, a 42-year-old farmer and owner of the grey house. “The ground went up and down.”
Half a dozen buildings, close to Karatas’ house, seem to have suffered the wrath of God. The body of a black and white cow is stuck in dried mud inside what remains of a farm shed.
Half a dozen buildings, close to Karatas’ house, seem to have suffered the wrath of God. The body of a black and white cow is stuck in dried mud inside what remains of a farm shed.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge
Fortunately, no one died in Demirkopru despite the heavy damage, but some were injured.
Fortunately, no one died in Demirkopru despite the heavy damage, but some were injured.
Rescue efforts in Hatay province have largely focused on Antakya, an ancient city that has been torn apart by the quake, 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) away from Demirkopru.
Rescue efforts in Hatay province have largely focused on Antakya, an ancient city that has been torn apart by the quake, 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) away from Demirkopru.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge
During the tremor, water rose from below ground then stagnated, residents said.
During the tremor, water rose from below ground then stagnated, residents said.
The ornately paved road no longer exists. Some bits are now a metre higher than others.
The ornately paved road no longer exists. Some bits are now a metre higher than others.
“Here, it became like an island,” Murat Yar, a 38-year-old roofer, said.
“Here, it became like an island,” Murat Yar, a 38-year-old roofer, said.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge
“It went up, down, up, down, and then it slid down 30 metres. We saw water and sand gushing out,” he added, mimicking the tremor’s waves with his hands.
“It went up, down, up, down, and then it slid down 30 metres. We saw water and sand gushing out,” he added, mimicking the tremor’s waves with his hands.
Residents could “jump out from the windows of their one and two-storey homes”, Yar said, unlike in Antakya where people lived in multi-storey homes.
Residents could “jump out from the windows of their one and two-storey homes”, Yar said, unlike in Antakya where people lived in multi-storey homes.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge
When the quake hit, the villagers scrambled to safety in an area designated by authorities in case of any tremors. But such was its force, even that cracked.
When the quake hit, the villagers scrambled to safety in an area designated by authorities in case of any tremors. But such was its force, even that cracked.
In front of a school whose gate was thrown 20 metres away is a yawning gap that zig zags but no damage is visible on the building’s facade.
In front of a school whose gate was thrown 20 metres away is a yawning gap that zig zags but no damage is visible on the building’s facade.
Further away four buildings belonging to another school appear like dominoes piled on top of a large earthen mound.
Further away four buildings belonging to another school appear like dominoes piled on top of a large earthen mound.
“I told myself, ‘we’re dead, we’re finished’,” Yar said.
“I told myself, ‘we’re dead, we’re finished’,” Yar said.
Hatice Sahan, a 58-year-old woman wearing a headscarf, summed up how everyone felt on February 6: “We were really scared.”
Hatice Sahan, a 58-year-old woman wearing a headscarf, summed up how everyone felt on February 6: “We were really scared.”
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
