“I just watch the news all day and can’t sleep well. My family is terrified, and it hurts me so much that I can’t do anything.”
About a week after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in Turkey, and as the damage continues to expand, with more than 30,000 deaths so far, Turkiye people living in Korea are worried about their families, friends, and acquaintances. I am sleepy. Some are unable to confirm whether their family members are alive or dead.
According to foreign media on the 14th, the death toll from the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria is expected to exceed 36,000. CNN reported on the 13th (Korean time) like this, and reported that the number of deaths in Turkiye was 31,643.
The Turkicians, who were staying in Korea for business or study, are anxiously watching the local rescue. In particular, some expressed frustration because they have not yet been able to contact their families or acquaintances.
Yalchin Koska (32), who came to Korea in 2012 and now lives in Suwon, is from the ‘Karamanmaras’ area, which was directly hit by the earthquake.
I met him through a video call with reporters, and his expression was dark, as if he was exhausted, and his eyes were weak. Because the past week has given him great pain as well.
“I heard that relatives and friends have died. I am so very sad” and shed tears, saying, “I haven’t slept for three days because I haven’t been able to contact my family in Turkey since a few days ago.”
“I just pray that those trapped under the rubble will be rescued as soon as possible. It is so sad that I have no choice but to pray like this,” he said. “I hope that family, friends and everyone in Turkiye are safe.”
Sali Kasik (35), who runs a kebab restaurant in Pyeongtaek, is also staying up all night worrying about the family she left behind in Kahramanmaras. Even his eyes were filled with worry and sadness that he had left her 5-year-old daughter in Turkey and moved to Korea three years ago.
Mr. Kasik said, “I didn’t know that such a terrible thing would happen to me. I don’t know how to live if something terrible happened to my daughter and wife.” Please, I am praying to heaven that my daughter, wife and family are safe.”
He couldn’t hold back his tears as he showed the pictures of his wife and daughter stored on his cell phone.
Concerns that additional earthquakes may come are also a big concern for Turkic people residing in the country.
“I heard that there were people who died at the parents’ house of Aishenul Turanalf (25), who is currently studying at Konkuk University.” said.
The fact that I can’t go to see my family or acquaintances right now also makes my heart heavy. This is because Turkiye has not yet escaped from the risk of an earthquake, and it has been held back for economic reasons.
Mr. Turanalf said, “I only watch the news all day. He said, “My family is trembling in fear in Turkiye, but I can only cry because I can’t do anything in a far away country.” He shed tears, saying, “There is a risk of an earthquake, and I can’t go back to my home country easily because I haven’t been able to raise money yet.”
Meanwhile, it is said that there is a movement among the Turkic people in Korea to collect relief items and send them to their countries to help earthquake victims.
Mubera (23), who is studying at a university in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, said, “My hometown is Ankara, the capital of Turkey, but fortunately my family is safe.” I feel guilty,” he said.
He said, “I gathered relief items such as clothes and flashlights necessary for the local area with my friends,” and said, “We plan to deliver them through the Turkish Embassy in Korea.”
Mr. Turan Alp also said, “We are collecting necessary items from the social network service (SNS) where Turkiye people gather and sending them by courier.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.