"A new cemetery has been built in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkey. It is called either the "Cemetery of the Desolate" or the "Earthquake Cemetery". These names were given by local people because unidentified bodies are buried here. A reporter from old.pressklub.az visited the site.

The "Desolate" or "Earthquake Cemetery" was built near the Narlica neighborhood, 7 kilometers from the center of Antakya. The cemetery is under strict surveillance, and police and gendarmerie forces are carefully observing the surroundings. Hearses bring unidentified bodies here.

Five dead bodies covered with a black blanket were stretched out on the ground. A poster reading "The Place Where DNA Samples and Fingerprints Are Taken" was hung near the bodies. Forensic experts are also in the area. Moreover, people who are looking for their relatives who were victims of the earthquake are moving around. First, certain samples are taken from the corpses, then their photos are taken to determine whether there are any signs on their bodies before they are buried. A small piece of wood is replacing the headstone and the top is numbered. Local residents looking for relatives and acquaintances come here, give relevant analysis, and review photos taken before the body is buried.

Everyone here must wear a medical mask. We also followed this rule. At that time, a person approached and asked us for three masks, explaining the reason: "We will bury the bodies, that's why it is necessary."

Hatay's local government does not allow outsiders, including the media, to enter, although photos of the cemetery have already been widely circulated. Therefore, we managed to take several photos from a distance.

According to the information we have, a similar cemetery was built in Kahramanmarash, and the media is not allowed there either.

We met Ali in Antakya, who is 19 years old. He did not want to be photographed. He said that one of his relatives was buried here, but it is still not known under which number.

"We have a tradition. We are Muslims. A person who has passed away should be washed and shrouded, and then the funeral prayer should be performed and buried. But these were not followed. They probably took this step to prevent the spread of diseases."

Search and rescue operations are ongoing in various parts of Antakya, and excavators are digging graves in the newly built cemetery.

The 7.6 and 7.7-magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmarash province on February 6 caused destruction and deaths in nine additional provinces. Among them, the city of Antakya in Hatay suffered the most. Almost no intact buildings remain here, and the number of dead is close to 10,000."

Author: Seymur Kazimov

Hatay, Turkey

Photos belong to the author