Earthquake Survivor Stories: Surviving an Earthquake

Earthquakes are natural hazards that can cause widespread destruction and profound loss. Yet, amid the chaos and devastation, there are stories of remarkable human resilience and survival. In this blog post, we share five detailed, harrowing yet inspiring tales from individuals who have lived through some of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history, emerging stronger and more resilient.

Marzela’s Story from the Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami

On September 28, 2018, a massive magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, triggering a devastating tsunami. Among the countless families affected was Marzela's. One moment, she was enjoying a calm afternoon at home, having her hair braided by her mother. The next, the ground beneath them began to shake violently, turning their peaceful home into chaos and destruction.

Marzela and her family had to make a split-second decision to flee as the walls of their home began to collapse. Just as they escaped, a second tremor struck, bringing the entire building down. Amidst the chaos, Marzela fled behind her older sibling’s motorbike. Fear gripped her heart as the reality of the disaster sank in, leaving her in tears and disbelief: “I kept crying because I was so afraid,” she remembers.

With their home destroyed, Marzela’s family was forced to live under tarpaulins in the jungle for a month. The trauma of losing their home and the uncertainty of their future weighed heavily on them. However, hope came in the form of a cash grant from Save the Children, an organization dedicated to helping those in crisis. This grant allowed them to replace essential household items and rebuild their lives.

Marzela’s story is a testament to resilience and the support provided by humanitarian aid. With the assistance they received, Marzela was able to return to school and dream of becoming a teacher. Her family’s journey from despair to a semblance of normalcy highlights the critical role of emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of such hazards.

Nir Bahadur Tamang’s Story From the Nepal Earthquake

On April 25, 2015, Nepal was rocked by a powerful earthquake that caused widespread devastation. Nir Bahadur Tamang, a 26-year-old farmer, was working in the fields with his father when the tremors began. The quake's intensity made him fear for the lives of his family members who were at home. “I was working in the field with my father when the earth began to shake,” the Nepali man recalled. “It was so strong. I thought that this world was going to be destroyed. My mother, brother, sister, and wife were all home in the house. I was sure that they would all be dead.”

Rushing back to his village in Ward 5 of the Manakamana region, Nir was relieved to find his family safe, though their home was destroyed, and their water buffalo perished. The destruction around him was immense, with nearly every home in the village either damaged or completely collapsed.

Despite the personal loss, Nir quickly took on a leadership role in his community. When World Renew, a humanitarian organization, arrived to assist, Nir volunteered as a community organizer. His family’s small shop became a hub for distributing essential supplies such as food, hygiene kits, and shelter materials. Over time, the shop also became a center for distributing water filters and organizing the construction of latrines, crucial for improving sanitation in the village. “World Renew gave more and more things that help us,” he said.  “Rice, salt, oil, tarps, blankets, water filters, iron sheeting, and more.”

Nir’s dedication to helping his community rebuild demonstrated the power of collective effort and resilience in the face of natural hazards. His collaboration with World Renew provided immediate relief and laid the foundation for long-term recovery and development in his village​.

Burak's Story: Turkey Earthquake Survivor

In the early hours of February 6, 2023, Burak, a 32-year-old mariner, was at home in Adiyaman, a bustling city in southeastern Turkey. The night was cold, and a wintry chill filled the air. Burak was sitting in his bedroom, texting a friend and planning his next maritime journey. His family, consisting of his parents and sister, were sound asleep in their respective rooms.

"Just after 4 AM everything started rolling," Burak recounted. "I was awake, texting with my friend when it happened. I grabbed my family and we lay on the ground trying to find shelter and covering our heads. The building started to crash down—everything collapsed and we were buried."

For the first few moments, all he could hear was the muffled cries of his family and the sounds of the building continuing to settle. Despite the overwhelming fear and confusion, he began digging through the rubble with his bare hands, determined to create an escape route.

Picture 1: Aftermath of Turkey-Syria earthquake in February 2023. Source: Pexels.

"I started digging and after about an hour I managed to open a hole in the wall and managed to get out," he said. "I pulled out my father, then my mother and my sister. They are okay, thankfully."

"We lost 10 people in my family because of this earthquake, including my mother’s sister and her brother’s family. One of them was a two-month-old little baby," Burak recounted with sorrow.

Despite his own loss, Burak felt compelled to help others. He joined the rescue efforts, working tirelessly to free other survivors from the wreckage. "Since that time, I have been working at other collapsed buildings to help other people. On the first day, we found a lot of people alive, but since then there have been a lot of dead people. Many of them were little children. It is so sad."

The scale of the disaster was immense. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, and the survivors faced a dire lack of resources. With no safe buildings to return to, many people, including Burak's family, were forced to live on the streets.

Picture 2: Aftermath of Turkey-Syria earthquake in February 2023. Source: Pexels.

"The other buildings are not safe now and nobody has gone back into them," Burak explained. "Everybody has been staying on the street. We are afraid another earthquake will come and more people will die. My family is on the street, my mother and my father. I have managed to send my sister away to relatives. Many people have left this place. I will try to send my parents, but my mother doesn’t want to leave. This is her home."

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Burak remained hopeful. He was determined to rebuild his life and provide for his family. "I will go back to sea and work to make enough money for my family to rent a new house and maybe someday we can buy a new one," he said resolutely.

Mikuni Fumitaka: A Survivor of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Mikuni Fumitaka, a retired 68-year-old resident of the Tohoku region, lived through one of the most devastating natural hazards in recent history – the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. On that fateful day, Mikuni was home in his seaside village, going about his daily routine. When the ground shook violently, Mikuni, like many others, had little time to react.

"I remember the ground shaking so intensely that it was hard to stay on my feet," Mikuni recalls. "The noise was deafening, and I could see the houses around me swaying as if they were made of paper."

As soon as the tremors subsided, Mikuni knew he had to act quickly. He rushed outside and joined his neighbors, heading for higher ground. However, the tsunami wave was already approaching at an alarming speed. The wave engulfed the village, sweeping away homes, cars, and anything else in its path. Mikuni was separated from his neighbors as the powerful currents dragged him in different directions. He clung to debris, struggling to stay afloat.

"I managed to grab onto a piece of a wooden door," he recalls. "The water was so cold, and the force of the wave was incredible. I thought I was going to die. I started to think about my family and friends. I couldn't give up. I had to survive for them," he says.

As night fell, Mikuni was finally rescued by a search and rescue team. Exhausted and hypothermic, he was taken to a shelter where he was reunited with some of his neighbors.

The days following the earthquake and tsunami were a blur of grief and confusion. The village was unrecognizable, reduced to rubble and debris. Many of Mikuni's friends and neighbors were missing or confirmed dead. The survivors faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.

Picture ___: Rescuers trying to reach survivors under rumble caused by the earthquake.

Mikuni's home was completely destroyed, and he lost many cherished possessions. However, he found solace in the community's spirit of resilience and cooperation. Together, they worked to clear debris, share resources, and support one another.

"The sense of community was incredible," Mikuni says. "We had lost so much, but we still had each other. That gave us the strength to keep going. We've come a long way since that day," Mikuni reflects. "There are still scars, both physical and emotional, but we're rebuilding stronger and better."

Myrtos' Story: The Ionian Earthquake Survivor

On the morning of August 12, 1953, on the island of Kefalonia in Greece, Myrtos, a 17-year-old local, was helping his father with fishing preparations in the coastal village. At that moment, a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the island. Myrtos recalls the moment vividly: "The ground beneath us started to shake violently. I saw the fishing boats sway as if they were caught in a storm. People screamed, and buildings began to crumble. It felt like the end of the world."

The tremors caused massive destruction across the island, toppling homes and infrastructure. Myrtos and his father were thrown to the ground, clinging to each other as they watched their village collapse. "I remember holding onto my father, feeling the earth rumble. It was the most terrifying experience of my life."

When the shaking finally stopped, Myrtos and his father scrambled to their feet. Dust filled the air, and cries for help echoed through the ruins. "We knew we had to find my mother and sister," Myrtos says. "Their safety was all that mattered." Navigating through the debris, they reached their home, only to find it reduced to rubble. Panic set in, but they continued to search, calling out their names.

"My heart leaped when I heard my mother's voice," Myrtos recounts. "We dug frantically with our bare hands, moving bricks and stones. It was exhausting, but adrenaline kept us going."

After several agonizing minutes, they managed to pull out Myrtos' mother and sister. Miraculously, they had survived, though both were injured. "Seeing them alive was the greatest relief. We hugged and cried, grateful to be together." With their home destroyed, Myrtos recalls: "The community came together incredibly. We shared food, water, and whatever we had. It was a true testament to human resilience."

International aid soon arrived, bringing much-needed supplies and medical assistance. Volunteers helped set up temporary shelters and provided first aid to the injured. "The aid workers were like angels," Myrtos recalls. "They brought hope in our darkest hour."

Over time, the island of Kefalonia rose from the ashes. New homes were built, infrastructure was restored, and the community healed. Myrtos' family managed to rebuild their home and even expand their fishing business. "We faced many challenges, but we overcame them together," he says proudly.

Conclusion

These detailed stories of survival remind us of the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Earthquakes can cause immense destruction, but they also reveal the strength, courage, and compassion that lie within us. As we honor these survivors, let us also prepare ourselves and our communities for future disasters, ensuring that we can face them with the same bravery and hope.

References:
1) Save the Children. “I Kept Crying Because I Was So Afraid”: Marzela’s Story. Accessed on 09-Jul-2024. Available at: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/sulawesi-indonesia-earthquake-tsunami-survivor-story.
2) WorldRenew. 2015. Nepal Earthquake Experience. Accessed on 09-Jul-2024. Available at: https://worldrenew.net/our-stories/nepal-earthquake-a-survivors-story-2
3) Concern. 2023. “We lost 10 people in my family” - The harrowing stories of Turkey’s earthquake survivors. Accessed on 09-Jul-2024. Available at: https://www.concern.org.uk/news/turkey-earthquake-survivors-stories
4) National Geographic. 2016. Exclusive: One Man's Harrowing Story of Surviving the Japan Tsunami. Accessed on 09-Jul-2024. Available at: https://news.nationalgeographic.org/exclusive-one-mans-harrowing-story-of-surviving-the-japan-tsunami/
5) Razaq, Rashid. Dominiczak, Peter. Moore-Bridger, Benedict. 2012. Japan earthquake survivor: 'There was a silence, like the world had stopped then the quake hit'. Accessed on 09-Jul-2024. Available at: https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/japan-earthquake-survivor-there-was-a-silence-like-the-world-had-stopped-then-the-quake-hit-6576583.html