A Russian Woman Describes Life in a Vegetable Greenhouse After an Earthquake in Turkey

The death toll in Turkey during the earthquake exceeded 18 thousand people. And these are not final numbers. According to local residents, official statistics have nothing to do with real numbers.

Russian Alexandra Salbieva during the earthquake was at the epicenter of the disaster. Spent a few days in the greenhouse for vegetables. About how people live in the destroyed cities and why they do not leave from there – in the material “MK”.

Alexandra Salbieva, 29, is an Ossetian from Krasnoyarsk. Three years ago, the girl moved to Turkey. Her husband, Dogan Uchucu, is from Antakya – this city became the epicenter of the disaster.

– Our city is wonderful, it looks like Vladikavkaz, – tell Alexander. – The population was about 300,000 people. This is a city with a great history. Here is the oldest Christian church of St. Peter. And it has always been considered that the best Turkish cuisine in Antakya. In almost every house there was a “fyryn” where lavash and bread were baked.

On February 6, the city was destroyed in a matter of minutes. Everything happened so quickly that it is now difficult to remember and add up the events.

At the moment, every house in Antakya has been destroyed or damaged. The fifth day under the rubble without food and water are people.

I don’t even want to talk about the number of dead. Official statistics are not nearly commensurate with real numbers.

In Antakya, electricity is out of order, which makes it difficult to search for the missing and excavate the rubble, the equipment cannot work normally. Therefore, our husbands and brothers are clearing the rubble with their own hands, there is no time to wait for rescuers.

We searched under the rubble for a long time for my cousin and her family. She was the only one in our family who didn’t get in touch. A day after the earthquake, my husband and brothers were screaming outside her house. When she responded, they began excavations. She and the children were saved. But her husband died.

We have a large and friendly family. In the first hours after the earthquake, we stuck together. Looking for a safe place to hide. And this place to this day for my relatives remains a greenhouse for vegetables. The tremors in the city do not stop, so it is calmer there.

In the destroyed houses we found mattresses, blankets, pillows, built sleeping places. The mattresses were stacked side by side to make the bed warmer. There were five children in our greenhouse, the youngest was 1.3 years old. We warmed up by the fire. The Turks are not used to the cold, and at the moment the temperature drops to minus five degrees at night. Most people have panic attacks because of the cold, they are terribly afraid of freezing.

Not everyone has the opportunity to hide in a greenhouse. Many people live outdoors. People do not even remember about such amenities as a shower or toilet. Everyone adapts as best they can.

From food we had pasta, bulgur (groats made from boiled, dried and crushed wheat) and flat cakes. In the daytime, while it is light, they prepared food.

Humanitarian aid comes in limited quantities. It is not enough for a huge number of victims. When help is brought to the city, we cannot understand where to get it. Due to the lack of electricity, all the phones were dead. People do not receive information about the location of humanitarian aid. Food stores are also destroyed, as are the rest of the buildings in the city.

Everyone asks me the question, why do the inhabitants not leave the city? It’s impossible to leave. The runway of the city of Hatay has been destroyed, so the only mode of transport that can be used to get out is a car. But most of the gas stations are out of order, they are also destroyed. And gasoline in the city is not brought in the right amount to evacuate people.

True, over the past 24 hours, buses have been organized to transport the victims, but they are also not enough for the entire population. And one more important point: when your family is under the rubble of collapsed houses, few people have a desire to get on a bus and go to a safe place. Everyone is waiting for their loved ones to be pulled out.

Victims are taken to hospitals in neighboring cities, depending on the severity of the disease. Russian doctors provide assistance and are ready to perform a number of free operations for seriously ill people.

On February 8, gasoline was handed over to my husband. We drove to the nearest safe city of Mersin. Then we got to Kocaeli. The road took a long time, as it snowed, and all the cars were on summer tires. My mother-in-law, my aunt and several other members of our family left with us, as far as there were enough seats in the car.

On the way there was a connection and the opportunity to charge the phone. I posted on social media. Asked for help from friends and acquaintances. Many responded.

When we got to Kocaeli, we rested for a couple of hours, then we started collecting humanitarian aid. We have compiled a list of those who need it the most. Buy heaters, coals, tents, flashlights, batteries, thermoses, power banks, gasoline, cigarettes, clothes, blankets, medications, hygiene items and food.

On Friday night, my husband and brothers drove back to Hatay province in two loaded cars to feed our families and pick up relatives.

We plan to evacuate all our loved ones on our own. So we don’t have time to sleep. We allow ourselves to rest for a maximum of 1-2 hours a day.

Recently, I have met a huge number of people who helped us organize the collection of humanitarian aid. All my relatives living in Russia and abroad responded. The Ossetian, Kabardian and Abkhazian diaspora renders great assistance.

As for the state, now all forces are aimed at evacuating people who are still under the rubble of houses to this day. What happens next, time will tell.

I can say one thing, everything that is happening now is just the beginning. To survive such grief and such a number of losses is difficult. People need psychological help.

It will take years to restore our city. Much will depend on funding and efficiency on the part of the state.

Despite the tragedy, the residents of the city do not want to move anywhere. All our relatives, friends and neighbors are determined to restore and build the city anew, no matter how difficult it may be. Because no one will forget the centuries-old history, here every street is dear and close to them.

Read also: “In Turkey, the bodies of Muscovites were taken out from under the rubble: friends told about the dead”