Earthquake in Turkey: Emel Atici, one of the well-known actresses of the soap opera Züleyha, died

Soap opera actress Züleyha Emel Atici became one of the 35 thousand victims left so far by the violent earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria a week ago.

The body of the actress was found in the rubble of the building where she lived next to that of her daughter. Puryan Aticiconfirmed the producer of the soap opera.

“We are deeply saddened for the loss of Emel Aici and his daughter, Püryan Aici, the precious actress of our TV soap opera in the earthquake disaster in our country. To Emel Aici and his beloved daughter, to all our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake. God, we express our condolences to their families and loved ones,” the producer said.

According to the information released, the actress lived very close to the epicenter of the earthquake, in the Çukurova region. There her body and that of her daughter Püryan Atici were found.

Several co-stars also reacted with grief to the news. Hilal Altinbilek (Züleyha), the protagonist of the series, emphasized on the networks about him: “I am sad. For everyone, for everything … our condolences to yours.”

The telenovela became popular in Argentina under the name of zuleyhabut in the rest of the world it has spread as Bir Zamanlar Çukurova, Once upon a time in Çukurova or also bitter land.

The series was broadcast for two years by Telefé and ended in December 2022. The Turkish production he conducted his streak comfortablywith averages above 10 points.

Set in the 70s, the story begins with the engaged couple Züleyha and Yılmaz, who decide to hide their identity due to the murder he had committed to protect his beloved from sexual assault. Because of that first drama, they flee from Istanbul and arrive in the city of Çukurova where all the story took place.

Staying on the farm of matriarch Hünkar Yaman, the second drama begins, when the woman’s son, Demir, falls in love with Züleyha. And everything gets complicated.

That initial lie was the trigger for other lies, betrayals, fights, deaths and all kinds of traumatic situations for the protagonist and her environment. As the chapters progressed, the story exhausted many of the central characters. And new ones appeared in their place.

In that passing of years and chapters, Züleyha lost the love of her life, Yilmaz, and over time she fell in love with Demir (whom she hated for years), but in the end he too died, in this case murdered.

At the head of two children and a prosperous land, the long-suffering young woman who arrived in that small Turkish town with nothing, became an important businesswoman, respected by the entire community. Züleyha has gone from being disapproved and abused to making important decisions for her family, her company and the city itself.