Bay Area woman worries about family after earthquake in Turkey

At least three Americans are now among the thousands who died in Turkey and Syria as a result of the earthquake. The death toll exceeded 15,000.

Ozlem Gukleu, a Bay Area resident, fears her family may be among those trapped.

“I still don’t know if they are alive or not, I still don’t know many of my families, if they are under buildings or if they saved them,” she said.

Gukleu said her sister’s house was among the damaged buildings. Piles of cement blocks and rubble fell on her nieces, nephew and their parents.

They miraculously escaped, but not without emotional scars, especially for a 9-year-old definee.

“She doesn’t want to do anything. She does not want to go to any shelter because she is afraid to be hit by an earthquake again,” Gukleu said.

Most of the Gukleu family lived in or near the epicenter. They have all lost their homes, and many of those who were rescued hours after the quake were seriously injured, with no hospitals or medicines in sight.

“I can’t drink or eat the last couple of days because it reminds me of all of them, so when I eat something I feel like they can’t find food right now, so I feel guilty,” she said. she. .

Gukleow has created a GoFundMe page for her family while she waits to see who else is alive and when the window of survival narrows.

Families in the Bay Area are responding, regardless of their background.

“We went and both of us have clothes, blankets, medicine, there are a lot of people who are suffering,” said Lisa McKenna, who turned in donations.

The Sultana of the Mediterranean restaurant in Menlo Park had an entire table that answered calls for help from Syria and Turkey on Wednesday.

Some people came with bags, checks or ideas.

“Restaurants, small hospitals, emergency centers – we determine what they need and if we can get it locally, we just send money to get it,” said Nalan Gungor Ozisik, president of the Turkish Association of Northern California.

The Turkish Association of Northern California organizes events and collects donations after the earthquake. Donations aside, there’s a lot of talk here today about what’s next and how they can work with companies to help rebuild what was destroyed half a world away.