MISSION TO ALEXANDRETA ANTIOCHIA. Alexandretta, which hosts one of Turkey’s most important ports, was hit hard by earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.6. As soon as we entered the city center, we saw hundreds of destroyed buildings and many rescue teams in almost every house. The shopping streets are empty, shops are closed, and for the first time since we arrived in the earthquake zone, we saw many robbery attempts, mostly in supermarkets. Police officers stop citizens trying to break into electronics stores.

The beautiful beach of Alexandretta with its palm trees and good restaurants was flooded by a small tsunami and continues to grow. At the same time, the fire that broke out in the port continued until late in the evening, the authorities said that they managed to put it out, but the facilities suffered great damage.

Greek Orthodox community

We visited members of the city’s Greek Orthodox community, which today numbers about 3,000 people. In the courtyard of the Holy Church of St. George, built 500 years ago, a sissitio was erected. Community volunteers cut onions, potatoes, carrots, cook rice in cauldrons to distribute food to the Greek Orthodox community affected by the earthquake, as well as residents of the area.

Community President Jan Tegmuir, who moved to see us in front of him, explains to us that there are many Orthodox Greeks under the rubble. He insistently tells us that they will try to increase the food rations given out and that they are making an effort to accommodate some of the homeless. Volunteer Dionisia, 23, who lives in the area, is shaken by the earthquake but tells us that everyone’s goal is to help their fellow human beings.

In the courtyard of the Holy Church of St. George, built 500 years ago, volunteers installed a wooden hut for the victims of the earthquake.

Minutes before we leave, Father Nikolaos weeps as he hugs another priest who is rushing to Antioch to help the city’s 12,000 Orthodox Christians.

There is a huge problem in Antioch, as houses, churches have collapsed, there are dead, missing people, and the Church is trying to contribute to the care effort.

Residential seismographs

After Alexandretta, we went back to Antioch, where we saw trucks carrying containers for the first time, which indicates that the Turkish authorities are starting a serious effort to accommodate the victims of the earthquake. The road to the city was packed, the wait exceeded two hours. Hundreds of ambulances come and go to the city to transport the wounded.

In Antioch the situation has not improved, and it will be too late. EMAK employees are still working to save people. Their needs for fuel and some food were met by citizens who wanted to save their people. An ambulance is constantly on duty. Late at night, when the EMAC rescuers were trying to free the little girl, many soldiers came.