Stanley man helped people during quakes after losing over 30 family

Suleyman Yildirim was in an outdoor garage in the Hatay province when the magnitude 6.4-earthquake hit the town of Defne causing buildings near him to collapse.

It comes two weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, with a second measuring 7.5 struck Turkey and northern Syria, killed over 47,000 people and left hundreds of thousands more homeless.  

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said the quake on Monday was felt in Syria, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

The second powerful earthquake struck on Monday (Image: PA)

People who had returned to their homes once again had to flee (Image: PA)

People were helped to safety as more buildings collapsed in Hatay (Image: PA)

Suleyman, who lives in Stanley, said: “We heard the noise and the building started jumping up and down and from side to side.

“It is a strange feeling, like being in the ocean and having a ride on the wave.

“We were in a small garage in front of a building. There were some people inside the main building when it struck. We managed to get everyone out.

“It went pitch black instantly and we had to use our head torches and get people out on the street. It was difficult. It was so cold. I am alright, but it was a terrible experience.”

Suleyman, 39, travelled to Turkey with his nephews Fuat, 35, who also lives in Stanley and Ozcan, 36, who lives in York.

They were trying to save four members of their family trapped beneath rubble but by the time they reached them they had died.

It is understood at least 34 of their relatives have perished in the quakes which continue to devastate their country.

Suleyman Yildirim (Image: Northern Echo)

Suleyman said: “We have had hundred of aftershocks since it happened on Monday.

“Two streets up from us there were buildings that collapsed completely.

“In the city it is like a ghost town, even the workforce and the excavators with machinery, they have stopped.

“It is totally devastated. It has broken my heart because this where I was born and bred. It is very sad and that is an understatement.”

Large parts of Hatay have been reduced to rubble (Image: Contributor)

The devastation spreads across ten provinces (Image: PA)

People are having to leave as they have nothing left (Image: PA)

Suleyman, a construction firm boss, who is planning to return to the UK this weekend, said people still have access to food and water, for now, but are in need of survival equipment as many have been left homeless.

He said: “We are trying to help as many people we can survive and to get out of the city but they are running out of tents.

“Now we are having to construct tents on the outskirts.

“People still have access to food and water at this moment in time but we are not sure how long that will last.

“The city needs a total rebuild and the people here have been left in fear for their lives and for their loved ones.”

In Stanley, Suleyman’s British wife, Gemma, is looking after his step-daughter and their two young girls.

She is also working to coordinate relief aid with other family members and an online fundraiser they set up has collected over £10,000 to support Turkish earthquake victims.

Dan Stewart, from Save the Children UK, speaking from Hatay, said: “Families who have already lost everything have just experienced another devasting blow.  

“For children caught up in this new earthquake it must be like reliving a nightmare - a never ending nightmare.

“The international community must urgently step up support to help communities, local authorities and aid agencies respond without any delay to any prevent any further loss of life, injuries and trauma."

The earthquakes have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless (Image: PA)