Ankara: The young man who miraculously survived the powerful earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey is thanking the Holy Mother. Basel Habkouk, a Lebanese Catholic and father of two, came back to life after spending 52 hours under the rubble of buildings.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and neighboring Syria on February 6. Habakkuk survived a devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people, injured many more, and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
Habcook was out with his friend when the earthquake struck. But after the ruins of the building fell to the ground, both of them fell under it.
Habcook recalled that his friend spoke to him while lying under the rubble. ‘He asked for my help, but I couldn’t move or help. After about six hours, his voice stopped. “Unfortunately, my friend passed away.” And then Habakkuk survived alone.
‘I was under the rubble for 52 hours, stuck in a block about two meters long and 40cm wide. Cold air was blowing from somewhere. I was neither hungry nor thirsty, but I had some food with me.’
Habakkuk sees the most difficult moment as being contacted by the rescuers on the second evening.
“I found a plastic pipe about a meter long and used it to hit the debris around me and make a noise to signal my location to the rescuers,” Habcook said. But after knowing the location, the rescuers rescued another person from right next to him.
After five hours of rescue operations till dawn the next day, they rescued another person and left. Habkouk was afraid that they would not save him because he was not a Turkish citizen.
Habcook described the first moments of the earthquake: ‘When the debris fell on me, I fell to the ground and cried out from the bottom of my heart: ‘Mother’. I continued calling on the Virgin Mary for 40 seconds until the earthquake stopped. Lay under the rubble and recite the rosary. The Virgin Mary did not leave me. God saved me – he continued.
Habcook said that prayer gave him the strength to overcome despair and strengthened his faith that he would be saved.
Fifty-two hours later, on February 8th, at seven o’clock in the morning, Habakkuk was rescued by the Turkish security team.
Habcook said this is not the first time he and his family have relied on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since childhood, I was brought up in the traditions of my village, Magdouche. I was taught about the importance of Catholic holidays (Christmas, Easter, Feast of the Virgin Mary, etc.) … I believe in the Lord and I have sought the intercession of the Mother Virgin Mary in my life – he added.
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