Residents try to keep warm as they wait for news about their loved ones Photo Hasina Gori
Kahramanmaras – A bustling city once filled with laughter, traffic and happiness has been reduced to rubble, dust and eerie silence. Every so often the deafening silence is broken by the sound of heavy machinery as rescue workers continue to search for those buried under the rubble with little hope any will be found alive.
Survivors in this southeastern Turkish city burn anything they can find to keep warm on these freezing nights. In Kahramanmaras, nearly 1 000 buildings have collapsed and more than 600 people have lost their lives to the devastating earthquakes. Salaamedia’s on the ground report, Hasina Gori, provides an update on the situation.
Citizens and rescue workers huddle together around a fire to keep warm. The nights are extremely cold in Turkey with places going into minus temperatures. Despite this, rescue workers push on trying to find any survivors Video Hasina Gori
Collapsed buildings, destroyed cars and forgotten belongings fill the streets of this once alive town. Fires , emergency lights and ambulance lights keep the street lit. Rescue workers are in their full gear still searching and sifting through the rubble Video Hasina Gori
Rescue workers push on through the bitter cold and fatigue in the hope of bringing closure to families. Heavy machinery is now being used with the chances of anyone being found alive extremely slime Video Hasina Gori
Bottle water is being distributed to those who are still in the city. With water pipes and other infrastructure damaged, these are much needed for many. It will be quite some time before infrastructure is fixed Video Hasina Gori
While the essentials like food , water, clothing and shelter are provided, we often forget that phones need to be charged. With power lines down, this charging station provides residents, workers and NGOs with much needed electricity to keep their devices charged. During disasters keeping an open line of communication is essential for many reasons Video Hasina Gori
Blankets are being handed out as temperatures begin to drop. Although there are houses and apartments still standing, residents are afraid to go back in. Many have reported experiencing fear when going into a building. The earthquakes and aftershocks have impacted them physically as well as mentally. Those whose houses stand prefer to sleep outside for the time being Video Hasina Gori
