Two heartbroken Turkish men living in County Durham who lost at least 18 members of their family in last week’s earthquakes are making their way home to help find relatives buried beneath the rubble.

Suleyman and Fuat Yildirim understand five family members may be trapped beneath collapsed buildings in their hometown of Hatay.

They have heard rescuers can still hear voices and cries for help and are flying out on Sunday but fear they may be too late.

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The Northern Echo: Members of Suleyman’s niece’s family who are thought to be trapped beneath rubble. From left: Gülnaz, Gürkan, Şefik and Şefik KutayMembers of Suleyman’s niece’s family who are thought to be trapped beneath rubble. From left: Gülnaz, Gürkan, Şefik and Şefik Kutay (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: Suleyman and Fuat YildirimSuleyman and Fuat Yildirim (Image: Gavin Havery)

Still the men, who live in Stanley, want to do all they can to help and will be working alongside rescue crews to look for survivors, recover bodies and provide much-needed aid to people in need.

Suleyman, 39, said: “We are trying our best to get there but I am worried I am late.

“I want to be able to get out there to help as many people as possible.

“I was born and raised there so I am physically and emotionally connected to the place.

“What has happened is very hard to swallow.”

Suleyman, 39, who has a British wife, Gemma, and two daughters, Ayla, eight, and Leyla, 12, as well as a stepdaughter, Jade, 21, runs his own construction company.

He and his nephews, Fuat, 35, and Ozcan, 36, who lives in York, will be flying to Turkey from Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon and making their way to Hatay with another family member and emergency supplies such as torches, tents and survival equipment.

The Northern Echo: This picture shows the Yildirim family home in happier times This picture shows the Yildirim family home in happier times (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: And after the earthquake struck And after the earthquake struck (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo: The damage has been devastating The damage has been devastating (Image: Contributor)

Over 28,000 have now died and hundreds of thousands of people are homeless as a result of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, with a second measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale which struck south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria in the early hours of Monday morning.

The disaster zone covers ten provinces and the earthquakes have caused widespread destruction to the existing transport infrastructure and supply chains.

A state of emergency has been imposed with repots of looting as people became more desperate to survive outdoors in harsh winter conditions with little or no sanitation.

Suleyman said: “When it first happened I could not get in touch with anyone.

“My immediate family has survived but for my wider family it is a different story.

“At least 18 aunts, uncles and cousins have died and I have heard five members of my wider family are still under the rubble.

“We have to do what we can.”

The Northern Echo: Gemma YildirimGemma Yildirim (Image: Gavin Havery)

Gemma, friends and family have been collecting blankets, clothes, toiletries, nappies, baby food, sanitary products and other essential items to send to Turkey when they are able to.

An online fundraiser they have set up has raised over £8,000 and is being used to transport the aid and to provide essential supplies once Suleyman and Fuat arrive.

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Gemma said: “This is where they are from and it has been one of the worst affected areas with the least help provided so far.

“They would have been there on Monday if they could but things can’t happen that quickly.

“We have lost six sets of whole families who have died and four or five of them are still under the rubble so we are trying to see of there are any survivors."

The Northern Echo: Suleyman has lost his cousin, Metin Yildirim, who died along with his wife and their two childrenSuleyman has lost his cousin, Metin Yildirim, who died along with his wife and their two children (Image: Contributor)

Gemma said: "There are six sets of family who have lost everything, including Suleyman’s dad.

“He is 86 years old and is currently living in a sheep shed. It is cold but he is surviving.

“Suleyman has got a brother and two nephews who have lost their homes. They are literally a pile of rubble.

“It is hard to get a true picture of exactly what has happened to everyone because lot of people are lost and it is hard to communicate with people but this has absolutely devastated our family.”

To support the family and victims of the earthquake click here.