120 Out of 130 Houses in Turkish Village Rendered Uninhabitable: Residents Share Their Stories

On February 6, two earthquakes struck Kahramanmaraş province in Turkey, causing significant destruction not only in urban areas but also in villages. In particular, in a small village named Büyük Mahalle in Malatya province, 120 out of 130 houses have been rendered uninhabitable. According to one of the villagers, the houses have suffered varying degrees of damage.

While many houses in the mountain village still stand, one side of their walls has collapsed. Residents report that some have sought refuge in nearby settlements, while those who remain in the village have noted a need for tents; however, it is challenging to set up tents even in conditions with temperatures plummeting to -20 degrees Celsius.

The underground tremors have also disrupted the flow of the village's water sources. Currently, water is coming from just one source, and even then, it is in limited volume.

The villagers have recounted that they were able to rescue one of the two families trapped under the rubble with their own efforts. The destruction in the village occurred during the second earthquake, which happened during daylight hours, allowing them to avoid more significant human losses.