P.A. Turkey

Village Split in Two by Earthquakes

The Feb. 6’s quakes have split Demirköprü village in Hatay in two as a small house that once looked out onto the road might appear untouched by last week’s huge earthquake, but it is now one floor lower.

Surrounding the building in Demirköprü village, home to 1,000 people, are bits of debris floating in murky water, broken pavements and lopsided houses.

The Feb. 6 earthquakes and its aftershocks have split Demirköprü in two.

“The houses sank four meters,” said Mahir Karataş, a 42-year-old farmer and owner of the grey house.

“The ground went up and down.”

Fortunately, no one died in Demirköprü despite the heavy damage, but some were injured.

Rescue efforts in Hatay province have largely focused on Antakya, an ancient city that has been torn apart by the quake, 20 kilometers away from Demirköprü.

During the tremor, water rose from below ground then stagnated, residents said.

The ornately paved road no longer exists. Some bits are now a meter higher than others.

 

 

hurriyetdailynews.com