Istanbul shaken by successive earthquakes on 23 April. The epicenter was announced as Marmara Sea and the largest earthquake was measured as 6.2. Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) announced yesterday that 291 aftershocks were recorded in Istanbul. While there was no loss of life in the earthquake, which was also felt in neighbouring provinces, it was announced that there was minor damage to 83 buildings in total. Many people are staying up in parks, mosques, apartment and school gardens due to the earthquake. 

 

Many people in Bahçelievler district are still unable to enter their houses due to fear of earthquake. Fatma Demir, who spent the night with her 4 children in a park in Şirinevler neighbourhood on the first day of the earthquake, stated that they could not enter their houses out of fear. Fatma Demir said, "We have been living in the same building for 8-9 years and our building is old. No one from the authorities came and looked at it. We cannot enter the house right now. We have no idea how long we will stay outside and it is very cold." 

 

Fatma Demir said, "We have not seen any tea and soup from the municipality. What can we ask from whom? Everyone is acting according to their own minds. I don't think any authority cares about this situation. We have been here for 2 days, we haven't seen any authority. These parks are not safe either, because they are full of buildings. I have no hope from anyone, so I do not want to make a call." 

 

‘WE WALK AROUND WITH GO BAGS’ 

 

Peri Yağcı said, "Our building is 50 years old. But they said its columns were strong. We checked the columns after the earthquake and there was nothing. We waited, we had to enter the house because it got cold in the evening. But we could not sleep comfortably. Now we walk around with go bags. We put water and clothes for the children. We take precautions in our own way."

 

Peri Yağcı said that they did not feel safe and added, "The buildings here are intertwined, even if you go outside, you are in danger. There is no gathering area. We gathered in the parks, but the parks are surrounded by buildings. If the buildings collapse, they will not find us underneath. They will demolish these buildings and build new ones. How will those who come out of those buildings find a new place for 40 thousand liras? A solution should be brought so that people accept urban transformation. The place where I live is now 15 thousand liras, the new building below is 40 thousand liras. How can I hold him?" 

 

‘WE COULD NOT FIND A PLACE WHEN THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE’

 

Stating that she has been living in Bahçelievler for 35 years and her accommodation is rented, retired Sehlan Altındilek said, "In case of a big earthquake, there is no chance of us surviving and rescue teams cannot come here. We already live in a congested neighbourhood. We do not even have a gathering area. When the earthquake happened, we could not find a place. Lastly, we sat somewhere in Ataköy and came back in the evening. We are also very complaining about this internet (companies). They take the world's money. But when the earthquake happened, all of them were cut off instantly. We could not establish any connection. We could not reach our children." 

 

Nalen Gündüz, mother of 3 children, pointed out that she also witnessed the earthquake in 1999 and said, "I am currently living in an old building. During the earthquake, we went to my friend's car wash. The parks were not fit to enter. There was a stampede of children and children. People have nowhere to go. They say building kills. But there is no possibility. We want more gathering areas. We ask for financial support." 

 

‘SHELTER AREAS ARE INSUFFICIENT’

 

Özgür Sertçelik, a student staying in the tent with his family, said, "It was my mum's birthday. While we were celebrating her birthday, the earthquake hit. We squatted on the edge of the bed together and our building is old. We have been in the tent since the night. We are afraid to enter the house. It is not certain that we will stay here tonight. I think our safe places and shelter areas are insufficient. It gets very cold at night and the tent does not protect us from the cold. No official came here either. We were on our own. There were also people without tents. People are victims, we want the necessary actions to be taken." 

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu - Esra Solin Dal