'Apocalypse': Survivors narrate horrific moments after Türkiye quake

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck southern parts of Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 people and injuring thousands.

Like tens of thousands of people in Gaziantep and other southern parts of Türkiye, Erdal Bay has been tucked away in his bed underneath the warmth of a blanket on Monday morning when the earth started to shake violently.

"I thought the line between life and death was a thin one now, and that everything would be over. I thought about my family’s safety," said Bay, who is a professor at Gaziantep University.

A resident of Gaziantep for a dozen years, Bay said he responded to the quake by immediately leaving the apartment along with his family. His building, thankfully, was not damaged. However, the furniture in his home was shaken and left scattered by the quake.

He recalled coming out of his building and seeing everyone terrified and fearful. 

“I tried to get my children to a safe area. My mother is old. We left the building after the first quake.”

Bay, who shared his story with Anadolu Agency through WhatsApp and text messages, is now trying to leave Gaziantep by car. “We’re in our vehicle right now. Many people are in the cars. There’s chaos and traffic everywhere.”

Saying he believes Monday’s earthquake was the most powerful he has ever felt in his life, he added: “This was a very strong earthquake. I’ve experienced different earthquakes before but haven’t felt an earthquake that lasted this long.”

The professor said he believes Monday’s quake also exposed how unprepared he was for such emergencies. 

“Everyone left the house unprepared. We had no emergency bag, no awareness that we shouldn’t use elevators,” he explained.

'I don't know what will happen next'

The same crescent of devastation stretched across major cities running along the two countries' border in the wake of the 7.7-magnitude pre-dawn quake.

Buildings lay in ruins around her southeastern city of Diyarbakir - home to many of the millions.

Tulin Akkaya had just started to gather her thoughts after being woken by the biggest earthquake to strike Türkiye in nearly a century when a second massive jolt sent her scrambling for safety on the street.

Akkaya was trying to piece together the remains of her life when a second jolt shook her house and sent her rushing outside.

"I am so scared. I felt (the aftershock) so strongly because I live on the top floor," she said.

"We rushed outside in panic. It was almost the same as the morning's earthquake. I can't go back to my apartment now, I don't know what will happen next."

'They will need my help again'

Halis Aktemur was also looking for someone to save back in Diyarbakir.

The 35-year-old was among the first to arrive on the scene of the first big building to collapse.

"We managed save three people, but two were dead," Aktemur recalled. 

"After the second quake, I can't go anywhere. I am thinking they will need my help again."

 'Apocalypse'

The second big blow came just as survivors had started to wander back into their apartments to pick up belongings that could help them survive the cold night ahead.

The relentless shaking sent damaged buildings crumbling in both Diyarbakir and nearby cities such as Kahramanmaras.

"Since I live in an earthquake zone, I am used to being shaken," said Kahramanmaras-based journalist Melisa Salman.

"But that was the first time we have ever experienced anything like that," the 23-year-old said. 

"We thought it was the apocalypse."

Child pulled out alive

There were some glimmers of hope and rays of joy.

Turkish television and social media periodically lit up with news that a child had been pulled alive from under huge slabs of concrete debris.

NTV television showed a little girl named Zehra - looking slightly dazed and asking for her father - being wrapped in a wool blanket and put in the back of a waiting sedan.

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