Two years after the earthquake: Antakya in the sign of reconstruction!

Two years after the earthquake: Antakya in the sign of reconstruction!

Antakya, Türkei - On February 6, 2025, the devastating earthquake in Antakya, the Turkish twin town of Aalen, marks the second time. The quake, which took place on February 6, 2023, demanded an estimated 60,000 human life in Turkey and Syria. In the province of Hatay alone, to which Antakya belongs, over 24,000 people died. These tragic losses shaped the city sustainably and left devastating damage to the infrastructure.

One year after the quake, a delegation from Aalen traveled to Antakya and found alarming conditions. Everywhere you can see rubble fields and container cities that dominate the everyday life of the survivors. Roland Hamm from the partnership association describes the situation in some quarters as "crane landscapes", while in other areas "stone deserts" primarily determine the view. Where the surface is unstable, there is still hardly any progress in reconstruction.

reconstruction projects and challenges

on historical buildings such as mosques, churches and synagogues are already preparing work for restoring. A newly founded foundation has set itself the goal of organizing the reconstruction of these cultural heirlooms together with the state. A new property for a rehabilitation clinic was also found. For this purpose, 500,000 euros in donations from Aalen flow, as much from Kiel and donations in kind of 300,000 euros from Dortmund. The construction of the clinic receives support from the new mayor Mehmet Öntürk.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the reconstruction work in the region as the "largest construction site on earth". As Vol.at , 160,000 people are already employed with the reconstruction, but the challenges remain enormous. There are hardly any places of life in the city, the city center is shaped by construction sites, and 64,000 new apartments are being planned.

psychosocial consequences and social changes

Psychologists already warn of the psychosocial consequences of this catastrophe. Elif Özbakan reported an increase in suicide thoughts and drug abuse among the population. The devastating living conditions lead to relationship problems because many have to live in cramped conditions. The people in Antakya are increasingly resigned, but still don't want to leave the city that has shaped it for generations.

researchers from the Technical University of Darmstadt, meanwhile examine as part of the project "Build Back Better!" The teachings from these natural disasters. The results are intended to help avoid future mistakes in reconstruction. They emphasize how important local knowledge is to develop effective reconstruction strategies. Historical analyzes also show that large disasters can also lead to the redesign of power relationships and social structures.

A commemoration for the earthquake victims will take place on February 9 at 2 p.m. in the Antakya-Aal culture club. In the meantime, donations for earthquake aid to the DRK district association Aalen can be transferred to help people in Antakya.