TURKISH OKLAHOMAN FEARS FOR HIS COMMUNITY AFTER EARTHQUAKE

TURKEY –

A metro man made a frantic call to his mother in Turkey after he learned it had a massive earthquake.

“The first thing that came to mind is, I have to call my parents to check if they are safe and well,” Muhammad Sezer, Executive Director of OKC’s Raindrop Turkish House, said.

Texts from concerned friends alerted Sezer to the devastating news more than 6,000 miles away.

“He said hey, I’m praying for you and your family in Turkey,” said Sezer.

While his family was not hurt, Sezer said other members of his community wait in agony. With much of the country’s infrastructure in ruins, they’re unsure when they’ll hear word.

“Mom said ‘I was sleeping, your brother came and he woke us up. He said we have to get out of here,’” said Sezer.

Sezer said his family huddled in their car, riding out the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Hours later it was followed by a second.

“Mom said ‘I have never seen such a thing in my life,’” said Sezer.

Sezer’s family is uncertain of where they’ll go next,

“He said he saw cracks in the building which means the building they live in has been damaged,” Sezer said they were grateful to have survived.

“My mom said ‘I know we will all die one day, but my fear was not to see you before I die, and that hit me a lot,’” said Sezer.

Sezer said others are trying to shake the fear that follows failed attempts to reach family.

“His assumption is they are under the rumble of the collapsed building,” said Sezer.

Turkey sits on one of the most active fault lines. In 1999, a 7.6 earthquake claimed an estimated eighteen thousand lives.

“Imagine a place the size of Texas, but there are eighty million people,” said Sezer.

With the death toll climbing, Sezer asked for prayer.

“Please keep the victims, family members in your prayers and thoughts,” said Sezer.