Biblical City of Antioch Completely Wiped Out by Turkey’s Earthquake

Gbenro Adegbola/

The Turkish city of Antakya (the Biblical Antioch) has apparently been completely wiped out by last Monday’s massive earthquake.

“Our city is finished” a city official is quoted as saying, in translation.

Thousands of people still remain buried under collapsed tall buildings.

Survivors are camping out in the open, in sub zero, freezing weather, keeping warm by burning debris.

Although a few houses remain standing, it is certain that they have been damaged irreparably and risk future collapse. They will ultimately have to be pulled down.

More than 600 aftershocks/tremors have taken place since the quake last Monday, and these heighten the climate of fear and terror among the people.

The city of Antakya (Antioch) is noted in Christian history as the place where followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians.

Like most of modern Turkey, Antakya is now significantly populated by Muslims.

It is still the site of a great number of historical Jewish synagogues, Mosques and Christian churches, including the cave Church of St. Peter, carved into the side of a mountain, all now leveled.

Also ruined are its museums, ancient city walls and architectural heritage.

Antakya is located in south central Turkey, near the northern border of Syria.

It has a population of just about two million inhabitants, inclusive of the outskirts.

Nature many times, can be such a ferocious, unfeeling force, without regard or consideration for anything beside its purpose, whatever that is.

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