Earthquake victims: We won't leave our hometown

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  • 14:34 10 March 2023
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HATAY - The earthquake victim who lost 5 of her family in Samandağ said: "Do people leave their hometown? We won't leave our hometown, we want to stay here."
 
The first floor of the building, which consists of 3 floors and 6 apartments, where the Demetgül family lives in the Samandağ district of Hatay, was completely destroyed by the earthquake. In the demolition, 5 people from the same family lost their lives.
 
After the collapse of the building where 6 siblings lived with their families, the family spent 3 nights in the greenhouse right next to the orange grove. Then the rest of the family set up tents they can reach after 20 days and stay there.
 
İsmail Demetgül, who survived the earthquake, stated that he could not forget the cries of his nephews who were under the rubble, “Uncle, save us”. Demetgül said: "We removed the lifeless body of my aunt, whose leg was stuck next to the column, and that we removed our nephew's body from the beam. We searched everywhere, the AFAD team came after 3 days. They said that there was no sound, if there was no sound, we could help you. Afterwards, the volunteers here broke the wall and plunged into the building. We took the bodies of my aunt and her two daughters behind the washing machine behind the bathroom."
 
Demetgül showed her house, which slides 2 meters away from the orange tree at the bottom of the wall, and said that both of her nephews escaped by getting out.
 
'WE WON'T LEAVE OUR HOMETOWN'
 
Stating that their house was reported as "heavily damaged", Demetgül said: "We were waiting for the debris to be removed. There is no electricity and water and volunteers are helping. If they clear this debris, we will stay on our land. Where will we leave and where will we go? Will people leave their hometown? That's why we won't leave our hometown, we want to stay here."
 
MA / Eylem Akdağ- Müjdat Can