You may recall that last year we reported on the plight of a family in Akbel, whose house burned down, due to a faulty electricity pylon.

Click here for that local news article

We are pleased to report that thanks to help and support from friends and family, their house has now been rebuilt. 

Seven months after that dreadful day, Kalkan Turkish Local News went back to see them.

Following the fire on 6th June 2009, Tahir Gedıkoğlu, his wife Yüksel, and two children Yücel and Tuğçe moved in with Tahir's brother.  Over the summer months work began on clearing the site and rebuilding their home. 

The new house is similar to what they had before - a ground floor dwelling, with one living room, which incorporates the kitchen and dining area, three bedrooms, and a shower room, with toilet.

Below: An exterior photo of the new building.  The problem electricity pylon, in the foreground, is now a safe distance away from the property.

In the main living room they have a wood burning stove, (a soba), which kicks out a tremendous amount of heat, however there is no heating in the rest of the house.

Friends and family have donated most of the contents of their new home, including some lovely furniture and rugs.

Below: Tahir and Yüksel, with teenage son Yücel and 11 year old Tuğçe.

They moved into their new home back in September 2009.  It was not quite finished - in fact they had no door until October, but they told KTLN that it was so warm at that time, it didn't really matter. The family appear to have settled in to their new home, and have put the trauma of last year behind them.

Tahir works on property maintenance in Kalkan, and his wife Yüksel is a cleaner.  On the day of the fire they were both out at work, as was their 17 year old son Yücel.  Fortunately, their 10 year old daughter, Tuğçe was playing out with friends at the time and was not in the house.

Below: A reminder of the fire, back on 6th June 2009.