VAN - Mikail Kaya, who lost his nephew Murat Kapağan in the first avalanche in Bahçesaray district of Van and his uncle Muzaffer Kaya in the second, survived the second avalanche. Kaya told, “There was this many losses of life because of neglect. Measures could be taken to prevent civilians from entering the scene of avalanche. It was deliberate that they let us walk to the death.”

 

‘I COULD NOT BREATH UNDER THE SNOW’

 

As Mikail Kaya, who has lost both his nephew and uncle in the first and second avalanches, respectively, states that they arrived to the scene of avalanche on February 5, at 12:00. As they were trying the heat themselves with the fire, they were caught in the second avalanche.

 

Kaya illustrated what they have been through: “We could not see beyond the end of our nose due to the heavy snowstorm and mist. That moment came the avalanche. I almost lost my memory. I elt I was flowing down with the avalanche. Breathing under the snow was so hard. I don’t remember who took me out of the snow. Avalanche wiped all the military vehicles and construction vehicles together with us. There was such a background voice that can not be described. I am still under the initial shock.”

 

'WE WALKED TO THE DEATH'

 

Pointing out that the construction machines were operating in the scene of the avalanche and civilians were not warned about this, Kaya said and asked: “There was this many losses of life because of neglect. Measures could be taken to prevent civilians from entering the scene of avalanche. It was deliberate that they let us walk to the death. Nine people from my own family were stock under the avalanche. What would we do if they died too?"

 

MA/ Yunus Duman