Earthquake in Turkey | “What has impacted me the most is the number of deaths”: the testimony of a Venezuelan student who lived through the destructive earthquake

“Around 4:30 in the morning, when the earthquake occurred, I was in my bedroom,” says Francisco Quintero.

“It was very strong, it was felt throughout the building.”

In conversation with BBC Mundo, this 20-year-old Venezuelan evokes the earthquake that, early Monday morning, shook Turkey and Syria and has left thousands dead and injured.

Has been one of the most devastating in recent years.

Quintero studies architecture at Çukurova University, in the Turkish city of Adana, in the south of the country.

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The building where he was located, which is a student residence, is far from the city.

“We knew what had to be done. we already knew the escape routes, because they had previously taught us. They told us that there was a high probability that this could happen.”

And it is that Turkey is one of the most complex and active seismological zones in the world.

“Then a group went back to the dormitories and others stayed outside.”

In the afternoon

“At 1:30 in the afternoon there was an aftershock, which was quite strong and forced us all to leave the dormitories.”

Quintero refers to the fact that after the first earthquake in magnitude 7.8which occurred near Gaziantep, in the south of the country, was recorded another 7.5.

“The situation in Adana is quite critical, survivors are still being found, but many people have also died.”

“What has impacted me the most is the number of deaths, I had never lived this type of experience, it is very strong, especially knowing people who lost friends in the earthquake, having friends who lost their homes.”

He has also been surprised by the impact on buildings. He calculates that where he lives between 11 and 15 buildings have collapsed.

“In one part of the city, the buildings are not safe, so most of the inhabitants are in camps for victims.”

He points out that there has been structural damage not only to very old buildings, but also to new ones. “Several of them unfortunately collapsed, some due to the earthquake, others due to aftershocks.”

Help

But you have reason to be hopeful.

“In the news we have seen that there are people who, after 41 hours, have brought them out alive.”

“Around the city there are many camps, there are people who have big houses and are hosting families, student dormitories have also been shared with the homeless.”

Quintero does not want to leave Adana.

“I have tried to stay because I think I can contribute more here than going to areas I don’t know.”

“I’ve been helping with donations, unloading trucksI have gone to the airport to help the teams that came from Spain and Portugal with the translation so that they can travel to the other cities”.

“In other cities, the situation is very critical and a lot of help is needed. There are areas that, due to the damage they have suffered, this assistance has not been able to reach.

“It’s an emergency. We are trying to help as much as we can, especially international students who know different languages.”

“Tomorrow I am going to go to a care center to prepare sandwiches for the victims.”

He says that with him, in Adana, there are three other Latin American students, one also from Venezuela, an Ecuadorian and a Colombian.

“We want to contribute our grain of sand.”

“My second house”

Quintero arrived in Adana in September 2021. After devoting the first year to studying Turkish, he is already studying for the degree.

“I like Turkey a lot, it is my second home. To my friends here, Turkish and other nationalities, I consider them my family”.

He says that after the earthquakes basic services have not been cut off and in relation to food, “they are trying to provide food for everyone.”

Talk about how different restaurants are cooking for the community.

“We have to help each other,” he says.

“I was able to sleep a little, but one is always alert Because you don’t know what can happen.”

BBC journalist Tom Bateman saw a building in Adana 10 floors completely collapsed.

He passed an area where he saw two bulldozers, as well as rescuers with drills and gloves working their way through the rubble.

He also talked to a woman wrapped in a blanket, in the bitter cold. His daughter was on the second floor of a building when she collapsed.

The mother was attentive to the lifeguards.

In the middle

In Ankara, in the center of the country, Andrés Sánchez, a Colombian national, has been in contact with the consulate of that country to support that community.

Sánchez has lived in Turkey for four years, is studying for a master’s degree in International Relations and is the coordinator of an association of Latin American students who have scholarships from the Turkish government.

That community is made up of 150 students.

He has been in communication with them in the different areas of the country where they are. Quintero and the other students at Adana are part of his priority.

“We try to support them, we have contacted their respective consulates. We tell them that they are not alone, that they are counting on us, ”he tells BBC Mundo.

“Two of them, in their desire to help, traveled to the most affected areas, until Hatay Provinceand they told us that there is immense destruction, that practically all the buildings are damaged and that the relief agencies have not assisted that region as much as they have done with others”.

“A Colombian teacher, in Adana, lost a colleague and five of her students, who died along with their families.”

“You feel sadness, anxiety and the impotence of not being able to help all the people affected in a more direct way,” says Sánchez.

“The civil society response It’s been immense.”

“You go to the supermarkets and you realize that baby food is out of stock and it’s because people have massively gone shopping to donate.”

But there have been many problems getting aid to the devastated areas.

“Unfortunately, the relief agencies cannot cope and that generates despair.”

“Many of our students have volunteered to help translate for first responders.”

Ankara used to be a vibrant city, he says.

“One went out and the cafes and restaurants were full, but yesterday I went for a walk and the places are empty.

“It’s a feeling of national sorrowpeople do not feel well to resume their lives.

“All efforts are aimed at helping.” (YO)