A Filipina earlier reported among the casualties of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this week had been rescued and is alive, a representative of the Filipino community there said.
“Kanina pong hapon, may lumabas po na balita na parang may narecover na pong isang Pinay. Isang kababayan po natin ang na-recover, napabalita po nung una na kinonfirm po ng amo na patay na pero na-recover po siya, buhay po (Early this afternoon, news came out that a Filipina was recovered. This was whose employer earlier confirmed was dead, but she was recovered and she’s alive),” Cherry Torres, president of the Pinoy in Ankara Community, said in an interview over Teleradyo.
The community is now seeking cash donations for the affected Filipinos, which Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Elena Algabre reported to be around 248.
Torres shared that the Turkish government is naturally prioritizing their locals, and that they are now doing a donation drive for their fellow Filipinos.
READ: Filipinos reported missing in Türkiye earthquake aftermath; situation unknown
While they have been receiving messages from people from other countries who want to help, she asked them to send cash instead because goods would still have to be shipped.
“Kung cash donations po, makakabili po kami or ibibigay naming doon sa mga biktima ‘yung cash para sila na lang po ‘yung bibili ng mga pangangailangan nila (If they send cash donations, we can buy what we need to give to the victims or we can give them the cash so they can buy what they need),” she explained.
Torres could not say much about the state of Filipinos there because the Filipino community rarely get a chance to communicate due to an order from the Turkish government to avoid calling the affected areas so as not to hamper critical communication efforts among the rescuers.
Recent reports indicated that the death toll due to the massive earthquake had already surpassed 12,000.
The quake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, Feb. 6, as freezing winter adds to the plight of the victims.