A man helping sort aid for the Turkey earthquake says nine of his relatives died in the disaster but has praised the community response – as UK groups urgently drive collections for survivors.
Some volunteers have also spoken about people in tears after receiving messages about loved ones dying as they pack up gear to send to the disaster zone.
In Leicester, Sefa Demirci is among those who have been helping load supplies outside a Turkish community centre – it’s had hundreds of donations from around the city and across the Midlands.
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He told Sky News on Friday that he had just found out a ninth family member had died in the quake.
“One of my cousins I heard bad news about two hours ago – he’s just been found passed away as well. It’s horrifying, I can’t put it into words,” said Mr Demirci.
His hometown has been devastated but he said his mother survived and was now back at her hospital job helping the injured.
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Despite his loss, he said he was inspired by the way local people had reacted.
“We are so blessed the Leicester community has come together and given so many donations,” said Mr Demirci.
“We are really grateful for everything the community has done for us.”
Volunteers are hoping their rented lorry will arrive in the city of Adana in four days’ time – after a huge journey of about 2,500 miles.
The community aid efforts come as nearly £33m was raised by the UK Disasters Emergency Committee appeal in its first day – with James Bond star Daniel Craig fronting a TV appeal.
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More than 22,000 people are now said to have died after Monday’s quake hit parts of Turkey and Syria.
With hopes of finding any more survivors now remote, the focus is on helping the tens of thousands now homeless.
At a fabrics business in Tottenham, north London, a goal to send 1,000 blankets has grown to 10,000 after a huge amount of donations.
Solomon Tangy shut down normal operations at his warehouse after Evren Keser reached out to him and the local Jewish community.
“There was no thinking twice – it had to be done,” said Mr Tangy.
“We were here from yesterday, seven in the morning until 11.30 or 12 o’clock at night with 30 or 40 other volunteers who came to help.”
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Mr Tangy said many of his staff at Empee Silk Fabrics stayed on to help – and on Friday they had nearly packed the 10,000 blankets that will give people protection from freezing temperatures.
Mr Keser said their shipment should be on the ground in a few days after he managed to arrange a special flight.
“We got in contact with three or four organisations through the Turkish embassy and they arranged for a Turkish Airlines flight for free, so our parcel with be flying tomorrow [Saturday] at 3 o clock,” he said.
‘A lot of our volunteers – they cry’
Mr Keser praised the way communities in the area had come together, but said some of those helping were receiving terrible news as they worked.
He told Sky News: “A lot of our volunteers, they cry and fold blankets at the same time because continuously they’re getting news that they lost a family member – or they can’t find family members. It’s heartbreaking.”
Hundreds of boxes filled with item such as clothes, medical supplies, nappies and baby food are also being loaded at a nearby removals firm in Tottenham.
The owner of CML Cargo said “a lot of friends of ours, or neighbours, have lost loved ones” – and so he’s paused normal business to ship out donations.
Cemil Acikan said there had been an “unbelievable” response and they should have four lorry-loads on the road soon.
“The community has been so generous,” he told Sky News.
“And it’s not just the Turkish community – [it’s] a lot of the schools around the area – primary schools, secondary schools and charities.”
It is estimated the aid will arrive in Istanbul in a week, where it will be sorted by aid agencies and sent to the disaster zone.
There will be a special programme called Disaster Zone: The Turkey-Syria Earthquake on Sky News on Friday evening at 9.30pm
