Father who lost wife and two children in Turkish earthquake kills surviving daughter and himself

A father who lost his wife and two children in the earthquakes in Turkey has killed his surviving 12-year-old daughter by shooting her in the head before committing suicide after suffering from depression.

Ferit Dayan, a high school science teacher, got help after the February 6 tragedy that claimed the lives of his wife, Feray, and two of the couple’s children, Alperen and Azra Beril.

Their 12-year-old daughter Asya Irem Dayan survived despite their home in Besni collapsed during the powerful magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes earlier this year.

The devastating earthquakes, which also hit parts of Syria, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people.

The organization believes about 214,000 buildings were destroyed and damaged leaving people homeless, while a total of 18 million were said to have been affected.

Dayan received counseling following the Feb. 6 tragedy that claimed the lives of his wife, Feray, and two of the couple’s children, Alperen and Azra Beril, after their building collapsed in Adiyaman. Pictured: Damaged buildings in Adiyaman on Feb. 25

Mr. Dayan’s daughter (left and right) was playing in the yard of their new home when her father called her in and shot her in the head

Mr. Dayan’s daughter was playing in the yard of their new home on April 27 when her father called her in and shot her in the head.

According to local media, Mr. Dayan shot himself after killing his daughter.

Neighbors who heard the sound of gunfire called emergency services, and paramedics and police officers were promptly dispatched to the home.

The young girl was found with serious injuries and was rushed to hospital after receiving first aid at the scene.

Asya was taken to Besni State Hospital and later transferred to Adiyaman Education and Research Hospital.

Tragically, less than three months after surviving the earthquakes, Asya succumbed to her injuries and died in intensive care.

Her father was pronounced dead at home and his body was taken to the Besni State Hospital morgue.

The two were later buried side by side in the cemetery in Tasliyazi village. An investigation into the tragedy is underway.

The devastating earthquakes, which also hit parts of Syria, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people, according to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Pictured: Earthquake survivors mourn victims in Adiyaman on April 21

Some buildings intended to withstand earthquakes collapsed. Pictured: A search in Adiyman on February 10

Asya Irem Dayan had survived the earthquakes despite the collapse of the building the family lived in in Besni, Adiyaman province. Pictured: Emergency services search debris in Adiyaman on Feb. 12

The first earthquake to hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria measured 7.7 on the Richter scale, while the second – a few hours later – measured 7.6.

The epicenter was near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, about 240 kilometers north of the Syrian border.

Thousands were killed in the provinces of Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya and Elazig.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has promised to rebuild homes within a year, though it is hoped that safety will take precedence over speed.

Some buildings intended to withstand earthquakes collapsed.

Turkey straddles multiple fault lines and, as a result, infrastructure legislation dictates that many structures must be reinforced and built to meet strict building codes.

Millions have been affected by the devastating earthquakes in February. Pictured: An elderly survivor of the April 9 earthquake searches through the rubble in Hatay for his belongings

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has promised to rebuild homes within a year, though it is hoped that safety will take precedence over speed. Pictured: An excavator removes rubble from collapsed buildings in the earthquake-hit city of Kahramanmaras on April 4

Huge investments have been made in the past 14 years since the 1999 earthquake in retrofitting buildings to ensure they meet standards, but most of it has been done around Istanbul and Ankara – the major metropolises in the north.

In the southern provinces devastated by the February earthquakes, a lack of oversight — and a loophole in government policy that allows builders and developers who failed to meet standards to pay fines rather than be forced to improve their buildings — means thousands of people probably died due to poor quality building practices.

Eyup Muhcu, president of Turkey’s Chamber of Architects, said earlier that it was “common knowledge” that many buildings, including modern apartments built since the introduction of earthquake-resistant building codes, did not meet the requirements.