A Turkish barber living in Ireland has said he is in shock and revealed his family has been forced to sleep in their car after two earthquakes rocked his home country.
Cork-based Hasan Kilic, who is from the city of Tunceli, said he woke up to frantic calls and texts from his friends asking if his relatives were safe.
The 39-year-old said his family live hours away from both of the earthquakes' epicentres but revealed their house still shook.
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The barber, who has been living in Ireland for 20 years, said it’s heartbreaking what happened and said it’s difficult to watch the scenes of destruction on the news after the two earthquakes which claimed the lives of people in both Turkey and Syria.
Speaking to The Irish Mirror/Irish Star yesterday, he said: “It’s just devastating. I woke up in the morning to lots of calls and texts from my friends asking if my family was okay.
“My family lives around eight hours away but the entire house was shaking. People are sleeping outdoors because it’s not safe to be indoors anymore.
“I called my family first thing in the morning to see how they were. They were staying inside the car, they wouldn’t go inside the house just in case. My family felt the earthquake.
“Whenever a big earthquake happens, there are always smaller ones too. So it’s too dangerous. They got a warning not to go inside until it was safe.
“It’s really bad. It’s winter in Turkey at the moment. So some places are covered in snow and people are sleeping outdoors. I don’t know what people are going to do tonight, it’s very bad.
“It’s very hard to be away from your family on difficult days like this. I am in shock.”
The hair-cutter, who works at Karizma Turkish Barbers in Cork, added: “Everybody is really sad because a lot of innocent people lost their lives. Everybody wants to help but how?
“I’m very worried for people at home. Everything is now flat and everything is destroyed after the two big earthquakes.”
He continued: “I’ve seen the pictures and videos from my home country and it’s just so sad.
“Lots of families are still waiting for news because a lot of people are still trapped under buildings. I hope people will survive.”
It comes as Philip Phelan from the Kurdish Irish Society said: “It is expected many of the casualties will be Kurdish.
“The shock waves have moved buildings in Erbil City and have left huge cracks in many houses.
“As Kurdish people have many relatives it's not known the outcome of the infrastructure as Turkey is largely hilly.
“It is a disaster like all major earthquakes, many lives lost, thousands lost their homes, no water or sanitation, it is expected that there are thousands of bodies underneath the rubble. At this point, rescue and salvage are the only means of help.”
He added: “At this point, the Kurdish Irish Society can only monitor the situation and updates directly from families in Erbil on what's going on.”
Last night, Concern Worldwide was providing emergency supplies and shelter to those impacted by the two fatal earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria.
The Irish humanitarian organisation was supplying blankets and heaters to emergency shelters in Şanlıurfa, close to the epicentre of the earthquakes in southern Turkey, along with food and water.
Concern is also opening community centres that are deemed safe, so families have somewhere to sleep.
In northwest Syria, Concern was working with local partners to assess what response is needed.
Concern regional director Fiona Gannon said: “The biggest priority for people affected by these earthquakes is shelter as it’s currently below freezing (-4 degrees Celsius) in the areas hit by the earthquakes.”
“These have been some of the strongest earthquakes in a 100 years and aftershocks have disrupted communications and electricity supplies, many people are too afraid to go inside, choosing to sleep in their cars instead.”
While GOAL’s Regional Security Advisor for the Middle East, Derek
O’Rourke said: “Our Emergency Response Unit is assessing the situation around our areas of operation that were most affected in these earthquakes in collaboration with local authorities while prioritising the safety of our staff. GOAL is also part of the response coordination network led by AFAD, Turkey’s Disaster, and Emergency Management Authority.”
“It is the already vulnerable who are also most at risk – including the elderly, children, and those with special needs who are eking out a living in stormy and snowy weather conditions and cold temperatures.
“Immediate needs will include food, water, temporary shelter, clothes, blankets, hygiene and sanitary products, and medical items.”
Last night, Foreign Affairs Minister and Tanaiste Micheal Martin announced that €2 million in emergency assistance will be given to the people of Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquakes which struck the region on Monday morning.
The funds will be allocated to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies along with the United Nations Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund, which are both best placed to respond immediately and to support local and international organisations already working on the ground to save lives in Turkey and Northwest Syria.
The Fianna Fail leader: ‘‘The people of Ireland have been shocked by the loss of life in Turkey and Syria as a result of the devastating earthquakes this morning.
“Thousands have already lost their lives and it is feared the numbers will only increase in the days ahead.
"In response, I have made an initial allocation of €2 million to the IFRC and the UN to address the urgent and immediate humanitarian needs of those affected in Turkey and Syria.”
He added: ‘‘The people of Northwest Syria already face enormous challenges as a result of conflict and displacement.
"Ireland has consistently supported the Syria refugee response over many years, contributing €23 million annually in support of Syrian refugees and host countries across the region. These communities in NW Syria need our support now more than ever”
The Department of Foreign Affairs they are "monitoring the situation closely."
A spokesman said "Any Irish citizens that require consular assistance can contact the Embassy of Ireland in Ankara on 00 90 312 4591000."
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