Yıldız Kartal, qui porte la douleur de la perte de ses proches dans le tremblement de terre destructeur

Yıldız Kartal, who lost her husband, son, and sister in the devastating earthquake that occurred in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep on February 6, is going through the difficult process by taking care of her two children and two nephews.

What They Experienced During the Earthquake

Kartal, who couldn’t hold back her tears while describing the moment of the earthquake, said, “During the earthquake, we didn’t realize that it was an earthquake. There was a huge shake. We understood later that it was an earthquake. That night, my husband and son were in the next room. Me and my two children were in another room. I heard my son first saying ‘dad.’ I heard my husband saying ‘Allahu Akbar.’ During the earthquake, I took my two children. I covered my daughter and son. Our building collapsed in 3 seconds. Everything was very dark. Even though it was bright outside, it was dark inside. My daughter was crying next to me. I called out to my husband and son. There was no sound at that moment anyway. I called out outside. I asked for help to be rescued. People from the neighboring building rescued us. They pulled us out from a very narrow place. I thought only our building collapsed. But when I got out, I saw the ruins. I called out a lot to my husband and son. I waited for them to come out with hope for 5 days. I hoped for each of our family members in the building to come out. There was no sound coming from anyone. Even though the weather was very cold, we were not feeling cold. My son and husband were inside. What mattered to me was the salvation of our family. The impossibility that our strength couldn’t handle was that day for me. I couldn’t lift any stones. I don’t want to remember that moment. I can’t forget the memories. I waited a lot for days with hope. I hoped they would come out somehow. But on the 5th day, the lifeless bodies of my son and husband were found. I lost my husband, son, sister, my sisters’ husbands, two nephews, my mother-in-law, and father-in-law,” she said.

Mother’s Day and Bitter Memories

Expressing that Mother’s Day passed bitterly for her, Kartal said, “Mother’s Day will always be bitter for me from now on. My other children are alive and I am a mother, but my son is now far away. Mother’s Day is sad for me. My son brought me a red rose on the last Mother’s Day. I don’t want to remember that moment. My sister and brother-in-law also passed away in the earthquake. I have two nephews living with me. They are a gift from my sister to me. I lost my sister, but I have two children left behind. We draw strength from each other. We try to heal our wounds together. My pain eases with the support of the children. I am obliged to take care of them. I stand for them. It is a very difficult process for me. Losing a child is very difficult for a mother. No mother should lose her child. Because no one should experience the greatest pain of losing a child,” she said.

Efforts to Hold on to Life

Kartal, who says that she tries to overcome the painful days for her children and nephews by being strong, said, “We draw strength from each other. We try to heal our wounds together.”

Hopeful Looks to the Future

“Even though the weather was very cold, we were not feeling cold.”

Yıldız Kartal, who supported her children and nephews during the challenging process after the earthquake, is trying to look hopefully towards the future. While living with painful memories, Kartal tries to stay strong by embracing her remaining family members while experiencing the pain of losing her loved ones.