Earthquake: Devastated cities, hope, hopelessness

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The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes, both on February 6, affected tens of districts and hundreds of villages together apart from ten cities. You can see how big the destruction is passing by the earthquake-hit areas.

Streets in ruins, neighborhoods where only a few buildings are left standing though they also are damaged, hills of wreckage, earthquake victims waiting to be rescued under the wreckage, families spending by the wreckage hoping to get good news from them, earthquake victims angry and the state institutions and at the government because the rescue efforts started late, communities established by volunteers, civil society organizations and volunteers trying to bring aid to the region...

Between February 9 and 13, we observed the destruction in the cities and villages in Maraş, Elbistan, Göksun, and Afşin. Below are some observations and the witnessing of photographs.

* The wreckages of collapsed buildings make up small hills - Maraş

* Earthquake victims waiting for news from their beloved trapped under wreckages in Maraş

*Teams repairing power lines, Elbistan

*An earthquake victim staying in Elbistan Djemevi

*Earthquake victims waiting in front of the AFAD tents set up in the empty area next to the Elbistan Djemevi

*Rescue teams - Elbistan

*An earthquake victim watching heavy machinery demolish her house damaged in the earthquake, Elbistan

*Earthquake victims staying in a tent that they set up themselves in Elbistan.

*A rescue team member who took a Qur'an out of a collapsed mosque

*The size of the destruction in Maraş

*People are trying to warm up by making a fire within the coffins sent from other cities for the dead to be buried - Maraş

*A bus under the wreckages. We were told that 4 people died inside. We were not able to confirm. Elbistan

Photos: Ferid Demirel - Hikmet Adal

(FD/PE)