Exactly one year has passed since the February 6 earthquakes, which caused great destruction in 11 provinces, centered in Kahramanmaraş, and took 53 thousand lives. The wounds caused by the giant disaster are still fresh.
After the earthquake, most of the people in the region migrated to different provinces.
Many people are trying to hold on to life in container cities. Kadir Kaya, one of these earthquake victims, told the Milli Gazete about the traces left by the disaster.
“MY FAMILY LIVED IN THAT AREA”
Kadir Kaya stated that he could not hear from his family for hours during the earthquake.
"I was in Istanbul for my military duty when the earthquake occurred. Because I was high-ranking, I had military brothers under me who were entrusted to me. I'm talking about soldiers whose families live in that area. My family also lived in that area. Since we are in the military, some news comes to us early. As you know, there were communication problems in 11 provinces during that period. Phone numbers could not be reached. We had 2-3 soldiers who could not reach their families. I couldn't reach my family either. After a certain period of time, I gained the comfort of reaching my own family. Thank God, there was no material or moral loss in my family. But I learned that there were great losses in the families of two of our soldiers. I took authority and sent our soldiers who lost their families on leave," Kaya said.
“PEOPLE WERE CLEANING DEBRIS WITH THEIR NAILS”
Kadir Kaya, what he experienced in the first moments he went to Hatay, the city where he grew up.
"After completing the procedures regarding my soldiers, I went to my family living in Hatay and wanted to see them alive. I went on leave. As you know, the earthquake damaged Hatay the most. I saw my family, but I was very touched that the city where I lived and grew up turned into a war zone like this. There were people around crying for mother and children crying for father. Even though 4-5 days had passed since the great destruction, people were cleaning the debris with their nails. I was experiencing strange emotions, I felt like I was in a war zone," Kaya added.
“CITIZENS WHO ARE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS SHOULD NOT BE MADE AS ELECTION SUBJECTS”
Earthquake survivor Kadir Kaya stated that as the local election period is approaching in Turkey, politicians are making statements that will harm the citizens affected by the earthquake.
"My military service is over. I had no intention of returning to my family, but I returned to my family and started looking for a job there. I found a job and started staying with them. The earthquake had a very deep impact. I didn't want to be apart from them. The district I am in in our city has pulled itself together. Our people live their normal lives. We still have people living in container cities. There are no more people staying in tents in my district. However, our city center, Antakya, is in a very bad situation even after a year. Now the elections are approaching and there is a constant rumor on people's lips that our people are very bad and sad here. While the wounds left by such a disaster have not yet healed, mentioning it under the pretext of elections is devastating to the feelings of our people," Kaya stated.
“WE ARE SLOWLY HEALING OUR WOUNDS”
Kadir Kaya, the one-year period after the disaster, "I am a citizen speaking specifically about Hatay and we are a strong people here. We have brave-hearted people, as in all of Turkey. Our city is recovering. We are slowly healing our wounds. Our people are doing their best. I'm sure many of us will get emotional while reading these sentences. We, as Hatay, have brave people and we are gathering our city. You, as the Milli Gazete family, gave me the opportunity to reflect these feelings, thank you," he added.