25 Days to Discharge: My Worst Fear Came True
Mahmut Can Yağlıcı was in the middle of his military service when he received the devastating news that an earthquake had taken the lives of 13 of his relatives. He was preparing for his discharge, just 25 days away, when his family, including his mother, father, and sister, passed away in the earthquake.
Prior to this tragedy, Yağlıcı had experienced an overwhelming sense of foreboding that something terrible would happen to his family. He described the feeling of impending loss even before he went to the military, as if he was somehow meant to take them away. Unfortunately, his fears became reality, and he lost his loved ones under tragic circumstances.
Racing home when he heard the tragic news, Yağlıcı discovered his family’s residence had been reduced to rubble. The heartbreaking sight of his father embracing his mother and sister in their final moments, enduring the weight of the building’s collapse, left Yağlıcı as the only survivor of his nuclear family.
Following the loss of his family, he found solace in the kindness and support shown by Osmaniye Governor Erdinç Yılmaz and others. Now, with his family gone, Yağlıcı faces the daunting task of rebuilding his life from scratch and coming to terms with the enormous grief and emptiness he feels. He recently shared, “My life struggle has begun. It was a great pain, it had to be experienced. While you had your whole family, suddenly everything was gone.”
The loss of his family represents an immense personal trial for Yağlıcı, but he is also finding strength and comfort in the care and companionship of the community during this difficult time.
