A touching video of a man from Turkey reuniting with his 4-year-old daughter lost in the earthquake is moving.
On the 18th (local time), foreign media such as CNN reported the story of 4-year-old girl Gada Ayyan and her father Ahmet Ayyan, who survived the earthquake but were separated in chaos and then reunited dramatically.
Recalling the time of the earthquake, Ahmet said, “I took my daughter and all my family rushed outside, but the building collapsed on my family.”
Unfortunately, Ahmet’s wife and son did not survive the rubble. Ahmet said he was trapped in the rubble and had no choice but to listen to his son’s cries.
Fortunately, their daughter Gada survived, lying on Ahmet’s leg, but the two were caught in a narrow gap and could not move. The wreckage rose up to Ahmet’s throat.
On the fourth day in the rubble, Ahmet said he was almost losing hope. His foot was badly injured and the pain was increasing.
But her four-year-old daughter, Gada, would not let her father give up. Gada continued, “Dad, don’t cry. calm down. Rescuers are coming to rescue us,” she said, instilling hope in her.
On the way, the father and daughter heard people’s voices as they said, “Look into the light that shines on us.” Miraculously, rescuers found them and were lifting the wreckage.
Gada was rescued first with minor abrasions. Rescued 30 minutes later, Ahmet was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was taken care of by a welfare agency.
Separated from Gada in confusion, Ahmet did not know where his daughter had been entrusted. He posted a picture of her daughter on social media such as Facebook and Instagram and appealed for help, saying, “Let me find her daughter.”
Fortunately, I found out that a relative was staying at a welfare institution, and the father and daughter were able to reunite dramatically.
A video released by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency shows Ahmet waiting in a room for his daughter. The moment they opened the door and entered, they hugged each other and burst into tears. Ahmet sobbed, “My daughter, I swear I did not leave you.”
Ahmet said, “They saved me while I was there. Gada is my hero,” he said, saying that he was able to survive thanks to his daughter. Ahmet said, “We have each other to love and take care of. I am grateful enough for this,” he soothed the sorrow of losing his wife and son.
Meanwhile, according to the AFP news agency on the 19th, Turkiye Disaster Management Authority (AFAD) Director Yunus Seser said in a briefing that the number of people killed in the earthquake in Turkey so far is 40,689. In northwestern Syria, the death toll from the government and rebels has stopped at 5,814 for several days, bringing the total death toll in both countries to 46,503.
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.