Two Years After Devastating Earthquakes, Antakya Struggles to Rebuild and Find Normalcy

Amid widespread destruction, survivors in Antakya navigate health risks, psychological trauma, and efforts to revive community life.

The 2023 earthquakes in Turkey killed over 53,000 people, with 24,000 deaths in Antakya's Hatay province alone, leaving the city in ruins.
Reconstruction efforts are underway with 64,000 new housing units planned, but the rapid rebuilding raises significant health concerns due to extreme dust pollution.
Residents face long-term psychological trauma, with increased rates of suicide, substance abuse, and strained personal relationships in overcrowded temporary housing.
Local entrepreneurs, like the owners of a dance bar and a traditional gasthaus, work to restore a sense of normalcy and community in the devastated city.
Antakya remains a massive construction site, with little progress toward livable conditions, leaving many uncertain about the city's future revival.