Demolition of Diyarbakır residential complex begins despite pets trapped inside buildings

Photo: Alper Yalçın

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

A residential complex in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır was severely damaged after the February 6 earthquakes.

While one of the four blocks was destroyed, the authorities ordered the demolition of the other three blocks of the Diyar Galeria residential complex in the city center.

Yesterday (February 21), the Governor's Office and the Metropolitan Municipality started rescue efforts for at least 14 animals trapped in the buildings. The efforts failed because an expected crane did not arrive at the scene.

'The crane hasn't come'

Alper Yalçın, a columnist for bianet and an animal and children's rights activist who was at the scene this morning, said the authorities did not cancel the demolition order despite all efforts.

"An earthmover proceeded towards the back of the complex. Law enforcement officers and soldiers have also arrived. The demolition has now begun," he said.

"The only thing we needed was a crane with a basket, and it hasn't come since last night. Search and rescue teams here say they have limited authority. We want everyone to spread the call for a crane."

The situation in the complex has also been widely discussed on social media, with people calling on the municipality and the governor to take action.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes centered in Maraş city claimed more than 42,000 lives and injured over 100,000 others in 10 provinces in the country's south and southeast, according to official figures. Also, nearly 450,000 people have been evacuated from the quake-hit regions.

Search and rescue efforts have been completed in eight cities other than Maraş and Hatay, the hardest-hit ones.

Galeria'da yıkıma başlandı. Lütfen yıkımı durdurmak için elinizden bir şey geliyorsa yapın, bir vinç bulursak hâlâ apartmanda yaşayan hayvanları kurtarabiliriz. pic.twitter.com/rqg7SdFkD7

— İlke Cambazoğlu (@ilkecambazoglu) February 22, 2023

(TY/VK)