In a tragic earthquake incident in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, around 25,000 lives were lost. The Ölçer Apartment in Antakya’s Orhanlı District turned into a grave for Fatma Keklik’s family, including her husband Coşkun and two children, Fethiye Sultan and Şükrü Efe. Miraculously, Fatma, along with her 12-year-old daughter Hatice Ecrin and 5-year-old son Kaan Eren, was rescued after 8 months of treatment in Ankara. Despite losing a leg and facing difficulty in using her left arm, Fatma remains resilient for her surviving children. The family home, now a painful reminder of the loss, harbors the memories of four departed family members.
Fatma shared the harrowing experience, recalling the difficult moments on February 6 when their 4-storey building collapsed. Only four family members survived, with injuries sustained by the daughter. The son, with a scratch on his forehead, was rescued on the third day after neighbors heard their cries for help. Despite the overwhelming tragedy, Fatma Keklik holds onto life for her surviving children, fulfilling the lost dreams of the ones taken by the earthquake.
Veysel Korkmaz – Ayşe Güler Tokdemir