Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Montreal's Turkish community collects emergency relief for earthquake victims

Survivors need winter coats, sleeping bags, tents, canned food and power banks for mobile phones. Donations will be flown from Montreal Wednesday night.

An earthquake survivor in Turkey the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast Feb. 7, 2023. Rescuers in Turkey and Syria braved frigid weather, aftershocks and collapsing buildings as they dug for survivors.
An earthquake survivor in Turkey the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast Feb. 7, 2023. Rescuers in Turkey and Syria braved frigid weather, aftershocks and collapsing buildings as they dug for survivors. Photo by BULENT KILIC /AFP via Getty Images

Members of Montreal’s Turkish community are scrambling to collect donations for victims of a powerful earthquake that toppled buildings, leaving thousands of people dead or trapped under rubble.

As president of Turquebec, Gokhan Kuriogulu is one of dozens of community members scrambling to collect emergency donations that will be flown to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight from Montreal Wednesday night.

Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

“People fled their homes at 4 a.m. without shoes or proper clothes,” Kuriogulu said in an interview.

“We need blankets, shoes, socks, clothing, coats, tents and flashlights.”

Kuriogulu and a friend are driving to homes across the West Island Tuesday to pick up donations.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed and injured scores of people in an area of Syria that is home to millions of refugees from the civil war.

At McGill University, members of McGill and Concordia’s Turkish Students Associations are collecting donations that will be flown to Turkey tomorrow night.

Kerem Ozkeseli was studying for an exam in a McGill library late Sunday night when his Twitter feed blew up with dozens of messages from victims trapped under the rubble.

“They were texting their addresses and asking people to send help,” Ozkeseli said.

“We are very far away, but we are trying to do whatever we can to help. I have friends there who can’t reach their families. It’s very frustrating. I feel like I want to be helping in person, but I have to stay here and help.”

Survivors need winter coats, sleeping bags, tents, canned food and power banks for mobile phones, he said.

How to help

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

McGill University, 3480 McTavish St., Room 302.

Turquebec West Island office, 61 Grand Blvd., Île-Perrot

Turquebec Montreal office, 3785 Villeray St.

kwilton@postmedia.com

  1. A man searches for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A powerful quake has knocked down multiple buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria and many casualties are feared.

    'Race against time': Death toll passes 5,000 from earthquake in Turkey, Syria

  2. A man walks among rubble as he searches for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

    Canada 'stands ready' to help after deadly earthquake rocks Turkey, Syria: Trudeau

  3. Turkish leader declares state of emergency as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,100