Sydney’s Turkish community mourn quake victims

Turkish migrants are desperately trying to locate their loves ones as the Sydney community came together in a memorial prayer for those who lost their lives in Monday’s devastating earthquakes.

Turkey born business owner and musician Levent Artan fears for his friends back home who have not answered his many phonecalls and texts.

The Kofte by Levant restaurant owner said he rang his best friends living in the east and southeast of Turkey, where deadly earthquakes had destroyed cities including Hatay and Adana, but his messages were not returned.

“I called and messaged this morning (Tuesday morning), but nothing,” he said, worried his friends may have contributed tothe rising death toll or are among those yet to be rescued from the mass destruction and devastation.

“How many people are there, we just don’t know.

“I came from there, these are my people, they need help, anything.”

Turkish migrant Levent Artan, Owner of Kofte by Levent, is struggling to reach his friends in areast affected by the earthquakes in Turkey. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“It is very scary and very sad for everyone.”

“The city is just gone on the map.”

Mr Artan said he was particularly concerned for displaced Turkish residents, given temperatures had plummeted to as low as -5C over the past 24 hours.

“It’s ninter time, they need blankets, it’s so cold, they could get hypothermia,” he said.

Mr Artan, who left Turkey 10 years ago for Sydney, is pleading with members of the community to help in anyway they can.

“Nappies for babies, jackets, blankets, we need to focus on help.”

Mr Artan cancelled a concert he had planned to perform out of respect. Picture: Tim Hunter.

He also said he and his band partner had cancelled their music performance scheduled for the weekend “out of respect.”

“This is the worst disaster we have seen in 200 years,” he said comparing the earthquakes to a similar incident in 1999 in Istanbul.

“We cancelled this weekend, it’s Turkish culture, we need to focus on helping these people.”

Mr Aratan said he could not bring himself to continue to watch video footage and broadcasts of the crumbling buildings andrubble rescues.

“I can’t watch, I am now just focused on helping,” he said.

The chef begged the government and international organisations to donate and assist where they can.

“They need help, my people need help, please just help them.”

SYDNEY’S TURKISH COMMUNITY MOURN QUAKE VICTIMS

Sydney’s Turkish community came together on Tuesday afternoon to mourn those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

A memorial prayer was held at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque led by Imam Abdulhalim Erkoç in honour of those affected by the disaster.

The managing director of the mosque, Dr Abdurrahman Asaroglu said now was the time for the community to band together to support those who had lost family.

“This is the time we show our community and this is the time we look after each other,” he said.

“The information we’re getting for the community is they’re sending each other messages and asking us if we can do the funeral prayers.”

The President of Auburn Gallipoli Mosque Dr Abdurahman Asaroglu. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Dr Asaroglu said the Gallipoli Mosque was one of many organisations within the Turkish community collecting money to support people in Turkey. Another memorial service will be held on Friday at 1:30pm.

Zeki Atilgan, a member of the Gallipoli Mosque community, was very worried about his family in Turkey after hearing the news on Monday. He runs Gaziantep Sweets in Auburn while his parents live in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep.

Fortunately Mr Atilgan’s mother and father are among the survivors, though he has been unable to get in contact with other members of his family.

People are seen praying during a service for victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake at the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“I’ve spoken with mum and dad but haven’t been able to get in contact with my cousins yet,” he said.

“They’re all okay but there is a lot of significant damage to their buildings and properties.

“It was really upsetting and really hurtful, even seeing our castle being demolished as well, we lost a piece of history.”

The Roman-era Gaziantep Castle suffered massive damage in the quakes. Mr Atligan said the damage to the historical site was devastating as it was a significant part of Turkey’s cultural heritage.

Originally published as Sydney’s Turkish community mourn quake victims