Earthquake survivor Servet Bacanak is currently residing in a tent he himself set up in the Elektrik neighborhood in Hatay province, which was devastated by the recent series of earthquakes in February.

In an interview with ANF, Bacanak said that after he rescued his family members from the earthquake rubble, he went to his parents' house for help, but both were trapped under the rubble. Bacanak remarked that no rescue team came to the street for the first four days. He said: “I made a sound to find those under the wreckage, yet no one replied. Mom and dad had died. We pulled them 8 days after the earthquake. Then I decided to stay here. Neighbours come sometimes. I don't want to leave here because I have nowhere to go.”

Bacanak noted that his wife and children left the city on the third day to settle in a dormitory, but he stayed. He continued: “There is no single person left here, I am like a guard for the neighbourhood, I feed the animals. I am waiting to find some pictures of my parents under the rubble when they come to demolish the damaged houses.”

The man said that he used a device for his health issues and asked policemen for help to provide electricity. He remarked: “I can't sleep properly anymore. I haven't been able to use the device for a month. I asked policemen to provide electricity for the device. If I don't use it, I'll die, but they replied, ‘go and talk to the head of police'. How will I see their superior, who is in Ankara?”

Bacanak stated that only volunteers came to help the earthquake survivors. He added: “It is very difficult to be alone, yet I can't make it outside the neighbourhood. My neighbours have died. Some survivors left and the remaining are buried somewhere. This is a very difficult situation, but even if I die, I cannot leave here.”