These images show how the devastating double earthquake in Turkey split an 80-year-old olive tree clean down the middle.
The tree’s two halves were left standing 15 metres (16 yards) apart after the powerful temblor ripped through the olive grove in the neighbourhood of Cubukcu.
Cubukcu – located in Samandag District, Hatay Province – lies a little over 100 miles, as the crow flies, from the epicentre of the first of the two quakes.
Local man Mustafa Gundogan told Turkish media: “I’m 50 years old, and I have never seen such a thing.
“I know the owners of the field and the history of these trees. The split tree is more than 80 years old.”
Local woman Ummuhan Gundogan added: “When the earthquake occurred, the house started to shake, and the ground started to slide.
“What I saw here is very scary. When I saw it for the first time, I couldn’t sleep out of fear. I am 70 years old, and I have never seen such a thing before.”
About 15 per cent of Turkey’s total agricultural land is located across 11 provinces affected by the double earthquake last month.
The disaster has had a devastating effect on agriculture and food security not only in Turkey but also further afield, given that Ankara exports agricultural products.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the district of Pazarcik, in Kahramanmaras Province, at 4.17am on 6th February.
Later that day, at 1.24pm, a 7.6-magnitude quake hit the district of Elbistan, also in Kahramanmaras Province, and was followed by 11,020 aftershocks.
Officials say at least 45,968 died in Turkey, while in Syria, about 6,000 are known to have perished.
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Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Central European News
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