Turkish children play 'earthquake' with building blocks as they try to understand

FILE PHOTO: A child rests in a ferry turned into a makeshift healthcare facility for victims of the deadly earthquake in Iskenderun, Hatay province, Turkey, February 15, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

ISKENDERUN, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish children left homeless by the massive tremor that struck Turkey and Syria last week have been learning to cope with what happened and their ongoing anxiety over aftershocks by playing 'earthquake' with building blocks, a teacher said.

"They talk about the earthquake. They build blocks and say... 'is this okay for earthquakes?' and 'is it stable?'," said teacher Busra Civelek, who was looking after 22 children in a makeshift classroom on a ferry that has been converted into a clinic and shelter in the port of Iskenderun.