Rönesans Rezidans (translates to Renaissance Residence), a large residential complex in Hatay province that collapsed during the February 6 earthquake, has gained notoriety in recent weeks after its contractor Yaşar Coşkun was apprehended while attempting to escape Turkey several days after the disaster. Originally marketed to potential buyers as ‘a corner of heaven’, the residential complex saw scores of casualties and deaths as a result of the quake. Many survivors and family members of Rönesans Rezidans residents who perished in the quake have struggled to find their loved ones’ remains in recent weeks as DNA samples continue to come back negative.
Hatay has been one of the provinces worst affected by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey in the early hours of February 6. Hundreds of buildings have been leveled in Hatay and thousands of citizens have lost their lives. Rönesans Rezidans has seen among the highest levels of casualties.
Located in Ekinci Neighborhood of Hatay’s provincial capital Antakya, the large residential complex was built in 2013.
Approximately 700 people lived in the 12-storey residence with 250 flats, which was advertised as “A corner of heaven“.
Search and rescue efforts at Rönesans Rezidans have reached their conclusion as the last of the rubble has been removed. However, the exact number of those who lost their lives has still not been determined. Despite the removal of wreckage, many people still could not be found.
Yeliz Nacaroğlu (43), Batu Nacaroğlu (2.5), Ege Nacaroğlu (15), Mehmet Ali Kısaçam (35), Pınar Ambarcıoğlu Kısaçam, (35), Umay Kısaçam (6 months), Dr. İbrahim Arıcı (43) and Gül Kanmaz (49) were at their home in Rönesans Residence when the earthquake occurred, but their relatives still have not heard from them and the search for their remains continues.
DNA samples don’t match
Relatives of Mehmet Ali Kısaçam, Pınar Ambarcıoğlu Kısaçam, and their six-month-old baby Umay Kısaçam, who all lived in Rönesans Rezidans A-2 Block, have been unable to obtain information related to their whereabouts. Mehmet Kısaçam’s sister, Seher Çam, called authorities to find the missing family members. Seher Çam said that no DNA samples have been found in the rubble that might match members of the Kısaçam family.
Insufficient rescue efforts
Stating that search and rescue efforts had been insufficient, Çam said, “A lot of bulldozers, a lot of help came but they were all turned down because they were prohibited. They were all turned down as unauthorized work is not allowed. Rescue efforts in Rönesans Rezidans have been good compared to other places, but they are still insufficient for such a large building,” she said.
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“We have the right to be informed”
Commenting on the performance of authorities in charge of search and rescue efforts, Çam said:
“We have the right to be informed, and an investigation is needed. I don’t know whether our state is simply weak or do they just not value people? If it were someone famous [buried in the rubble], they would immediately take action.”
Mother and sons missing
Burhan Beşok, relative of Rönesans Rezidans residents Yeliz, Batu, and Ege Nacaroğlu, stated that the remains of her uncle Türker Nacaroğlu were taken from the ruins of Rönesans Rezidans. However, no information regarding the other three family members has been provided by authorities.
DNA samples for the three missing relatives have been given but no matches have surfaced so far.
“I have identified many bodies”
Stating that the bodies were removed from the rubble without names attached to them, Burhan Beşok described how he looked through unidentified body bags in vain attempting to find his missing sister and nephews:
“Ambulance drivers took the bodies to hospital gardens and grounds, cemetery gardens, or school gardens. Normally, names are written on the body bags as well as the place they were found. How else are people supposed to find their relatives? I had to look through all the bags. The people were shattered and disfigured. What I saw was unbelievably bad.”
“All the corpses were in the corridors [of the hospital], wrapped in blankets. All the children were placed in their own section. Later, as casualties increased, the hospital garden became completely filled with corpses, as well as the inside of trucks. Very few had names on them; the ones with names are the lucky ones.”
“They are late for everything”
Stating that the search and rescue efforts at Rönesans Rezidans had been insufficient, Beşok said, “We searched the wreckage with 8-10 soldiers. In the evening of the second day, the bulldozer operators shut off their machines because they did not have any back-up personnel. Isn’t the second day the day people are most likely to still emerge from the rubble alive? Unfortunately, further rescue efforts did not occur. AFAD [Turkey’s disaster response agency] came on the fourth day or so. They pulled the military out, they pulled us out [of the rubble zone]. They upset the miners and there was incredible chaos. We would say, ‘Look, there is a voice down there.’ Then they went and put a construction machine in those spots. They were late for everything, and there was an incredible lack of planning. We worked there ourselves, sleeping only three or four hours per night. We’ve uncovered many bodies.”
“We don’t know what to do if the DNA result doesn’t match”
A missing resident of Rönesans Rezidans Block 137, Dr. İbrahim Arıcı’s family also continues to wait for DNA results to come out.
Dr. İbrahim Arıcı’s wife, Gonca Arıcı, said, “We have given a DNA sample, the result has not yet come out or does not match with the bodies that have been uncovered so far. We are still waiting for news.”
Gonca Arıcı said that they normally live in Mersin, but that her husband had come to Antakya for a shift at Defne Hospital.
Arıcı’s cousin Hülya said, “We are waiting for the DNA result. We do not know what to do if it does not match.”
The family of Gül Kanmaz, another missing resident of the Rönesans Rezidans complex, is also still awaiting word on the discovery of a body or matching DNA result. Gul Kanmaz, 49, was a teacher at a local kindergarten.
Original story by Buket Topaktaş
Translated by Leo Kendirck
