Meet the father-of-three who gave up living in a house and moved into a CAVE... because it's 'safer than man-made structures'

A Turkish father has been living in a cave for more than two years after his house was destroyed by an earthquake, despite it meaning he no longer lives with his family.

Ali Bozoğlan, 55, had his house levelled in the devastating earthquakes of February 2023 which killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria and left cities on both sides of the border in ruins.

The earthquakes affected Mr Bozoğlan so badly after it destroyed his family home in Hatay, Antakya - where he previously lived with his wife and three kids - that he now lives alone in the cave just a few miles from where the catastrophe had struck.

Speaking in an interview with Turkish media, the 55-year-old told how he now chooses to fend off mice and removes snakes from his bed at night than live in a man-made structure ever again.

However, his wife and children have chosen to stay in traditional housing.

The father-of-three sleeps on a mattress which is wedged up against the cave's walls, gathers whatever food he can find throughout a day and while he suffers from a lack of electricity, he is hoping to get solar panels soon.

He says the panels will help to power his washing machine and refrigerator, as he currently hand washes his clothes and cannot keep his food chilled in the fridge.

And despite the peculiar lifestyle he now lives, Mr Bozoğlan has defended his reasonings for living in the cave, saying that it brings him 'peace'.

(Ali Bozo¿lan, 55, had his house destroyed in the devastating earthquakes of February 2023 which hit Turkey and Syria; now he lives in a nearby cave on his own)

(The father-of-three sleeps on a mattress wedged up against the cave's walls, gathers whatever food he can find throughout a day and is hoping to get solar panels soon)

(Despite now living away from his wife and three kids, the 55-year-old says he feels at 'peace' in the cave)

'I spend my days washing dishes and laundry,' he told Gazete Duvar.

'I clean. I prepare the food I will eat. I have beautiful memories in the cave. I am far away from everyone and in touch with nature.

'Uneducated people make negative comments about my living in the cave because they do not sit with me, do not chat with me, and do not know me.

The 55-year-old said he feels safe in the cave as it has been there for thousands of years without collapsing.

Mr Bozoğlan also told how he rejected offers of housing from the government because he now feels at home in the cave.

(Mr Bozo¿lan is hoping to power his washing machine soon with solar panels, as he currently hand washes his clothes)

(He fetches water and fresh food every day, though he cannot keep things chilled properly in his fridge as it is not connected to electricity)

(The 55-year-old said he has 'beautiful memories in the cave' and says those who make negative comments about his living situation are 'uneducated')

(The deadly quake killed more than 50,000 people across both Turkey and Syria)

(Residents fled from homes in terror in cities across southeast Turkey and Syria, taking shelter in cars fearing aftershocks and collapsing buildings)

The catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria in early February 2023, flattening entire neighbourhoods while many families were still asleep.

Ref: Meet the father-of-three who gave up living in a house and moved into a CAVE... because it's 'safer than man-made structures' Photo Credit-dailymail