Videos showing before and after images of the earthquake in Turkey have gone viral on social media.
About 40 days separate these two videos showing the devastation after the disaster.
TV 2 has spoken to the man behind the camera.
Had to sleep under a tree
Alper Şener (34) is a Turkish filmmaker from Antakya, but first and foremost he is a lover, son, brother and friend.
He and his fiancee currently live with his mother and siblings in Ankara, but it was not easy to end up there.
WITH THE FAMILY: Alper Şener (in the middle) and his fiancee (tv for Şener) on Christmas Eve with the family last year. Photo: Private
Şener describes to TV 2 what happened the night he and his family woke up to the earthquake.
– While we were sleeping, we woke up from the earthquake. The quake lasted for about 90 seconds before it stopped, he says.
The electricity in the apartment went out almost immediately, and it became difficult to communicate with other people.
– We didn’t hear from anyone, he continues.
He and his family quickly got out of the building, but it wasn’t long before the building collapsed behind them.
– Both my home and my workplace are in ruins, he says.
Although the family quickly made it to safety, there was a lack of refuge in the city.
DIFFICULT FOR THE ANIMALS: Homeless animals are also in pain now, says the filmmaker. Photo: Alper Şener
They finally ended up spending the night under a tree that barely sheltered from the rain.
– It rained on us constantly, it was so cold, says Şener.
The next day they were given a place in a tent where they spent the next five days.
Now Şener and his family are safe in Ankara, but he longs to return home to Antakya.
At least 70 percent of the city leveled
However, it is not certain that Şener will be allowed to return to his hometown anytime soon.
Antakya is one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake.
HARD HIT: There was not much of the city left when TV 2 visited the quake areas last week. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
according to reports At least 70 percent of the buildings in the city are razed to the ground.
– Almost all the historic buildings have been destroyed, says Şener.
The death toll after the earthquake is also the highest in his hometown.
Some assistance from the authorities has reached the city, but the need for help is extremely great.
Read the powerful story of the families TV 2 met in Antakya
– All our friends are dead
On Monday this week, Alper Şener published the video of his hometown on Instagram.
It has over 50,000 likes, and has been shared tens of thousands of times.
– I didn’t know my videos could hurt so much. The glittering streets are gone, he writes under the video.
Şener tells TV 2 that he is happy to be alive.
– But all our friends are dead. I’m so sorry, he concludes.
