00:00 Beneath the cloud of dust that covers the earthquake-hit city of Hatay in southern Turkey
00:05 lies another danger - asbestos.
00:09 DW reporters invited Utu Firat, an environmental engineer, to help them collect dust samples
00:17 for asbestos analysis.
00:19 "Anyone who has come into contact with Hatay is at risk of being exposed to asbestos."
00:26 The journey starts from Gaziantep, 200 kilometres away from Hatay, because the local airport
00:33 was damaged in the earthquake.
00:35 Seven months afterwards, the city still resembles a war zone.
00:40 "We took dust samples near the tents where people live.
00:44 We also went to an area where earthquake rubble had been piled and took various samples for
00:50 asbestos analysis."
00:54 Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung and pleural cancer, over decades.
00:59 But constant exposure to contaminated dust can quickly lead to acute illnesses.
01:06 "My brother got sick from the dust.
01:11 We take him to the hospital and they give him oxygen.
01:16 But then we come back here where the dust hurts him.
01:21 Sometimes he sleeps the whole week."
01:26 According to public health experts, thousands of children in the region are at risk of developing
01:32 lung cancer by the time they get to their 20s or 30s.
01:40 This rubble dump is 50 metres away from containers where people live.
01:45 Next to it is a high school with some 5,000 students.
01:51 "Had asbestos materials been removed before the buildings were demolished, the dangers
01:56 could have been minimised."
02:01 Locals said the government prioritised quick reconstruction over public health.
02:07 After two days of reporting on the ground, the team is back in Gaziantep.
02:12 They take one last dust sample from the roof of their car.
02:16 The next day, the lab results show that asbestos travelled hundreds of kilometres with them
02:21 on top of the vehicle.
02:23 It's a clear indication of the extent of the danger, possibly affecting millions of people.
02:29 "The results we received are really serious.
02:33 We detected asbestos in 16 out of the 45 samples.
02:37 That is why the statements made by the authorities do not reflect the realities on the ground."
02:43 A public health scientist also examined the lab report.
02:48 "We may face the deaths of tens of thousands of very young people due to cancer.
02:54 Official statements claiming that people aren't affected only result in covering up the problem."
03:00 The process of removing asbestos is costly and slow.
03:04 But the Turkish experience shows how much more destructive asbestos can be if it isn't
03:10 done.
03:11 Because when disaster comes, it'll be too late.
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