A dad-of-four in Nottingham has told of his unending grief after losing six family members in the deadly earthquake that ripped through Turkey and Syria, leaving destruction and debris on each side of the border. Ali Topaloglu, 45, who lives in Wollaton, woke up to the news that six close members of his family were killed in the catastrophic earthquake in the early hours of Monday (February 6).
"They lived in Hatay in Turkey - they were among the first ones to be killed," said the heartbroken dad. Almost 20,000 people have been killed in the disaster and the numbers are expected to keep rising as rescuers are racing to pull survivors from beneath the rubble.
Turkish authorities have reported at least 16,546 deaths, and the Syrian toll totalled 3,162. It shook residents from their beds at around 4am, with tremors reported as far away as Israel and Lebanon, according to reports.
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"We woke up to the devastating news", Mr Topaloglu added. "They lived in a village house, a old house in Hatay."
His mum and other members of the family now live in a tent made out of polyester sheets, alongside other survivors. "This is a major world incident," he added. "Thousands have died, including children and babies. But I try not to think about it, I try to do all I can to help these people.
"Ten cities have been destroyed. People left their homes because they do not know what is going to come tomorrow.
"My family are now homeless, like many many others. There is a shortage of shelters, they all live in tents.
"With a tragedy of this scale, it does not matter where you are from, your status or nationality. Earthquakes and natural disasters do not select people - they destroy everything and everyone.
"My family go to sleep feeling tremors, and then they wake up feeling the tremors. It is a constant reminder - everyone lives in fear."
He spoke of the tragedy from inside the Nottingham Bazaar on Hucknall Road in Sherwood - where hundreds of donations to help those affected were mounting in preparation of the next delivery to Turkey. "I have heard so many stories. I cannot bring myself to watch the news anymore," he added.
Mr Topaloglu is also the chairman of the Nottingham Turkish Community. He added: "I lived in this country for 23 years and I have four children. It is in moments like this when I realise how extraordinary this community is in Nottingham."
"We have all come together to help. I am so grateful to everybody who has helped with donations - and all volunteers as well."
Murat Sukru Acar is the manager of the huge cash and carry on Hucknall Road, which opened last year. But now, the Nottingham Bazaar has become the central spot for donations for the Turkish community affected by the earthquake.
When Nottinghamshire Live visited the giant store, hundreds of bags were lined up ready to be put in the lorry. This also included bags of clothes for children, nappies, blankets and other essentials.
Mr Acar is also the chairman of the Leicester Turkish Community. He said that there are around 2,000 Turkish people in Nottingham, while the community in Leicester is even larger.
The 40-year-old added: "It has been a very hard time for all of us. It is like in a matter of seconds, people in Turkey entered hell. It is a humanity disaster.
"People here have lost their families back home, they lost their friends and homes. Babies died, mums holding their children died, families have been destroyed. I have heard some harrowing stories."
He added: "Yesterday it was Ukraine, now it is Turkey and Syria, tomorrow it could be anyone. We have to stick together. We have to care for other human beings when they need us."
Essentials can be donated to be transported to Turkey at 171-173 Hucknall Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 1FD.
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