In the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, the Antakya district of Hatay faced significant destruction, leading to the loss of thousands of lives. Among the casualties was the Gezer family, whose 3-storey apartment building in Antakya’s Cumhuriyet District crumbled in the disaster. Of the 15 family members, only 17-year-old Mehmet Ali Gezer survived, losing his father, mother, and two brothers. Recalling the horrifying experience, Mehmet Ali shares the harrowing details of the night, emphasizing the 12-hour ordeal under the rubble before being rescued by relatives. Despite the passing months, the impact of the ‘disaster of the century’ remains etched in his memory.

Veysel Korkmaz – Ayşe Güler Tokdemir