Photo: gofundme
A trip to Turkey ended in death for one New York City family who was visiting when two earthquakesstruck the region on Monday, leveling building there and Syria.
The man lives in the town of Elbistan in southern Turkey and “was the only survivor” after his family lost their lives in the natural disaster thatkilled more than 20,000 people.
Salazar told CNN the man had recently undergone an open-heart procedure and so her sister 32-year-old Kimberly, and Kimberly’s husband Burak Firik, 35, and their sons, Hamza, 2 and Bilal, 1, went to visit the man.
All four family members, as well as Burak’s mother, who was not named, died on Monday.
Hasan Huseyin Kul/Anadolu Agency via Getty
“He basically saw his building collapse before his own eyes, and he couldn’t do anything,” Salazar said of her sister’s father-in-law. “He spent over 12 hours digging and just finding people to help him dig because the machines weren’t able to go in.”
Although she did not say how the family’s bodies were discovered, she added: “We’re all very broken in my family. Our hearts are broken.”
“She was very graceful; she as very lovable; she was very passionate about everything she did,” Salazar said. “She certainly put everybody’s needs above her own. My brother-in-law was very helpful in the community.
Her nephews were young, she said.
“There are no words I can describe how my family is feeling, how they were taken away so soon,” she said.
RELATED VIDEO: Turkey-Syria Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 20,000: ‘We Can Call It the Disaster of the Century’
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He writes in the fundraiser’s description, which has raised almost $20,500 of its $100,000 goal: “I am asking on behalf of my deceased daughter for any help to support her inlaws in Elbistan. She was always a kind soul who would put others needs above her own, and I know this is what she would want to do. Her father-in-law, brother-in-laws, and their children have lost their homes and their entire livelihood.”
According to the description, “any money raised will go to support rebuilding a home for them and support their basic living expenses and education.”
Meanwhile, Salma Salazar told CNN she wants to bring awareness to what is happening.
“I want people to know that this is a really big problem in Turkey and in Syria and although I lost my family, there are currently still people under there,” she said.
source: people.com
