Syria and Turkey are going through a nightmare! The condition in these countries in the Middle East after so many deadly earthquakes is so disheartening. So many people lost everything, injured themselves, felt trapped under the massive rubble and tremors, and unfortunately some lost lives as well. Syria and Turkey once again got hit by a harsh earthquake on 6 February and this led to the destruction of the Gaziantep Castle in Turkey.
Deadly Earthquake Dismantled The Gaziantep Castle
When in Turkey, exploring the Gaziantep Castle is a must for every tourist. This is an iconic ancient museum and a tourist attraction to visit in this country. Unfortunately, the historical site is now in a very bad state after an earthquake struck Turkey. The 2000-year-old historical castle has gone through so many disasters, wars, and whatnot before but this time, a deadly earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes devastated the historical site after two millennia.
Turkey was struck by the earthquake during the early hours of that day and reports state that the castle started dismantling and falling off during the earthquake only. The situation turned south pretty soon after the devastating earthquake. Many bastions in different areas of the caste collapsed with huge cracks in some bastions. Also, much debris and iron railings spread all around after the destruction. In fact, the retaining wall beside the castle also got destroyed, according to a report by CNN. In fact, the Şirvani Mosque located beside the Gaziantep Castle also faced destruction because of the earthquake. The CNN report states that the mosque’s dome and Eastern wall also got destroyed.
The Romans Constructed This Ancient Historical Site Long Back!
Nestled in the heart of the city, the Gaziantep Castle stood tall for over 2000 years. The Roman Empire built the ancient site during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and the main purpose behind constructing it was for the surveillance of the city. Later during the kingdom of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the castle was reconstructed again and this is how it got its present look.
Also read: After Turkey, Residents Of Oman Woke Up To An Earthquake Of 4.1 Magnitude On Sunday Morning
Syria and Turkey are going through the worst of all times. We pray for their recovery!
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons