Kahramanmaraş Earthquake: Capturing the Unforeseen
During a moment of unexpected and astounding proportions, a devastating earthquake struck Turkey. Despite my years of experience covering the war in Syria, I was not present to witness this catastrophe firsthand. However, I endeavored to use my camera lens to capture images that would convey the story and the stark realities on the ground.
The Initial Moment
In this image captured at 4 30 a m local time on February 6 2023 we were in search of a safe haven still unaware of the full extent of the calamity we were engulfed in It was then that I awoke to a scene of immense destruction within my own home
In the early hours we were unable to do anything and there was no time to escape or means of transportation We set fire to a nearby park and waited in anticipation and amazement
In order to be able to cover the events in the most affected area around the city of Gaziantep which is Nordag I went there with a humanitarian team
The city was truly destroyed and was suffering and people s faces were pale
In Gaziantep Syrian families lived in park benches because there was nowhere to escape and they lost their homes again and again
This old Turkish woman sits and watches in amazement the horrors of the disaster that we have never seen before
Due to the extreme cold families began to resort to lighting fires despite the risks
A Syrian refugee s home after the earthquake in Gaziantep
The ancient castle of Gaziantep was terribly damaged by the earthquake
Archaeological buildings such as ancient mosques were damaged in the old city of Gaziantep
Destruction in Nordag
Many affected families are living in tents after the great disaster
