30.10.2026 10:33
Meryem Kaya Öztürk, who lost her 12-year-old son Halil Berk and her dog Alf in the October 30, 2020 Izmir earthquake, waited at the rubble for 23 hours for her son to be reached. After her grief, Öztürk resigned from her job, received training at AFAD and AKUT, and obtained an international rescue certificate. The mother, who now works at the Izmir Fire Department, participated in search and rescue efforts in Islahiye after the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
Meryem Kaya Öztürk (46), who lost her 12-year-old son Halil Berk and her dog ‘Alf’ in the earthquake that occurred in İZMİR on 30 October 2020, dedicated herself to touching other people’s lives after the pain she experienced. Öztürk, who received an international rescue certificate, served in many search and rescue teams, and took part in numerous disasters, especially the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, said, “We all have a way of holding on to life. If there are families who have lost their children, I recommend they do whatever will make them feel better. My goal was to touch a life, a soul.”
The 6.6-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Seferihisar district at 14.51 on 30 October 2020 caused great destruction in the city. In the earthquake, in which many buildings collapsed in Bayraklı and Bornova, 117 people lost their lives and 1032 people were injured. Among those who lost their lives in the earthquake was Meryem Kaya Öztürk’s 12-year-old son Halil Berk. Öztürk also lost her dog ‘Alf’ along with her son. What remained from Halil Berk were the moments when he asked his mother while playing the guitar, “Whose memory will my video be?” and Öztürk replied, “Mine.”
Meryem Kaya Öztürk, who struggled with the pain she experienced after the earthquake, took action to help people who experienced similar disasters. Öztürk, who took part in search and rescue efforts, especially with the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT), improved herself by going through training processes. Öztürk, who also received an international rescue certificate, began working to support people in their most desperate moments. Öztürk, who works within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department? No, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department Presidency, also served in the search and rescue efforts carried out after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023 that affected 11 provinces. Öztürk, who struggles so that other people do not experience the desperation she experienced in the İzmir earthquake, contributed to the efforts by taking part in the field in different disasters as well.
IT TOOK US 23 HOURS TO REACH BERK
Meryem Kaya Öztürk, describing what she experienced in the collapsed Barış Site C Block, said, “We were at our workplaces on the day of the earthquake. Schools were closed due to the pandemic. Berk was at home with his dog. At that time, my workplace, where I worked as a medical representative, was close to my home. I started running toward home. The scene I encountered when I arrived was shocking. I started walking around the house. A small gap was visible from Berk’s room. I called out through that gap. I tried to enter. I also walked around the building. We could not get a sound. Friends and neighbors from the surroundings began to arrive. But there was nothing you could do. We waited for professional teams to come. Their arrival also took time. Within 3-4 hours, we tried to get a sound from my child. It took us 23 hours to reach Berk. Our waiting was painful. By the time Berk was reached, it was too late. There was nothing that could be done for Berk,” she said.
SHE RESIGNED FROM HER JOB AND BECAME A RESCUER
Öztürk, who said her life changed with her son’s death and that she resigned from her job, said, “After Berk’s departure, my view of life changed. After the mourning process, I realized that I could not do anything for Berk, but that I could do a lot for the other children left behind. Those 23 hours taught me a lot. When I saw the professional teams, I wanted to train myself. Touching a living being, a life, would make me feel better. First, I started as a volunteer with AFAD. I completed my training at AFAD. I even completed that volunteer accreditation process. After that, I became a member of AKUT. Over 5 years, we continued our training continuously without any interruption,” she said.
BERK’S MOTHER LEFT, AND MERYEM TOOK HER PLACE
Öztürk said, “I was in İslahiye in Kahramanmaraş. The situation was heartbreaking. After seeing İslahiye, my pain shrank. I gave thanks for my own pain. Actually, I was very uneasy until I got down to İslahiye. It was the first operation I truly joined. It was my first disaster mission. There, Berk’s mother left, and Meryem took her place. You perform your duty entirely with your identity as a rescue team member. You have no chance to panic. A life, a life is at stake. You gather all your strength and do your best to support the disaster victim. There were moments when my heart ached a lot. There were moments when I felt deep pain inside. But you have no chance to give up. The part that makes you happy is seeing those who hold on to life. Since I know as a mother waiting in the rubble how painful that process is, hugging a mother and sharing that moment of happiness is an indescribable feeling. I wish there were no disasters at all, that they never happened,” she said.
Öztürk, stating that she works at the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department Presidency, said, “We all have a way of holding on to life. If there are families who have lost their children, I recommend they do whatever will make them feel better. They can hold on to a memory left by their children, a remembrance, and everything that will make them feel better. My goal was to touch a life, a soul, and thank God I achieved it. I was able to enter the rubble and come out again. I am proud of myself and very happy. If I can be useful even a little, if I can do something for humanity, I feel happy,” she said.