麻豆社

Turkish writer and essayist Kaya Genc reflects on the growing anger in the country after deadly earthquakes claim thousands of lives.

"In the first two days of the quake, there was a feeling of being forsaken. In cities like Iskenderun, my father's hometown, where just a few rescue teams arrived on Monday," writes Genc.

"It's the same inadequacy, ineptitude and unpreparedness we saw in the 1999 earthquake, recurred in front of our eyes. There was a feeling of inevitability here, and our leaders talked about fate's plans.

"This is the challenge that awaits us now as a nation in the upcoming days of rebuilding southern Turkey. We'll have to ensure that those who have profited from our tragedy end up paying the heaviest possible price, and the politicians who empower them will no longer be able to do so."

Photo: An aerial view of collapsed buildings after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkey

(Credit: Getty Images)