Turkish special forces were dispatched on Wednesday to rescue dogs, cats and birds trapped in a badly damaged building being demolished after the February 6 earthquake in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir.
From the morning and while the machines were already at work, noted the AFP correspondent, animal rights defenders opposed the destruction of the Galeria building, of which 111 inhabitants lost their lives in the disaster, claiming the presence of pets.
“What kind of Muslim country do we live in? These are lives, you can’t destroy them like that!” protested Ramazan Tugay, rushed to the spot.
According to him, sixteen cats, dogs and birds are trapped in the badly damaged floors.
“They say the building will collapse if the crane hits it,” said Nilay Yilmaz, 32. “As of 8:00 this morning they started cutting up the building, but it is still standing. Those who ordered its destruction are going to kill these animals.”
“Please let us in is all we’re asking, if you’re scared (to go) let us do it,” she implored. Without success.
A large city with a Kurdish majority, Diyarbakir was the scene of attacks and clashes in 2015-2016 between the police and Kurdish fighters and opposition to Ankara remains strong there.
The Diyarbakir Bar took legal action to stop the demolition, supported by the Union of Turkish Bars which called for the animals to be saved.
Turkish authorities have banned people from attempting to enter quake-damaged buildings, even briefly.
In the afternoon, a special forces helicopter flew over the building for a long time with one of their members hanging from a winch in an attempt to approach the building, raising a huge cloud of dust.
In vain. The operation – broadcast live on television – was suspended shortly after 6:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. GMT), but a drone took over and continued to fly over the building despite the night.
According to a policeman, food will be left to try to attract cats. But demolition work will resume on Thursday, he told AFP.
23/02/2023 10:57:34 — Diyarbakir (Turquie) (AFP) © 2023 AFP