Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 9) — Days after a massive earthquake rocked Turkey — now called Türkiye — and Syria, Filipino survivors are still struggling in the aftermath of the disaster.
Aside from aftershocks, Filipinos in Türkiye also face freezing weather – with power outages making matters worse.
“Matindi talaga ang lamig. Kaya wala kami magawa kundi mag bonfire kasi walang kuryente pagkatapos ng lindol,” Filipino community leader Maricel Miquel told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: It’s very cold at night. We can’t do anything but set up bonfires to keep us warm because we don’t have electricity after the quake.]
‘ ’29’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘fit-content’ ’embedCode’: ‘
WATCH: A Filipino earthquake survivor in Hatay, Türkiye shares their situation in an open space converted as evacuation center following the magnitude 7.8 killer quake.
They’re using bonfires at night because they don’t have electricity due to the quake @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/wKkDTRsdfC
— Tristan Nodalo (@TristanNodalo) February 9, 2023
‘ Miquel’s home was among those flattened by the magnitude 7.8 tremor.
“We are staying in an open space, mga bata naglatag lang diyan sa sahig, yung mga Pilipino na magulang nila nakaupo lang binabantayan mga anak nila,” she said.
[Translation: We are staying in an open space. We put mats on the floor for the kids while their Filipino parents watch over them.]
Lisa – a Filipino worker in Hatay Province – chose to stay in a car after her house suffered large cracks after the quake.
While grateful she and her two sons survived, Lisa said the trauma lingers.
“Parang gusto mong makaiyak parang gusto mo sumigaw pero hindi mo mailabas hindi ka makatulog, hindi ka makakain, naghihintay ka kailan matatapos,” she said.
[Translation: You want to cry and scream but you can’t. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat and wonder when will this end.]
“Nakakatakot kasi baka may mangyari sayo wala kang matakbuhang pamilya rito. Takot na takot yung mind ko, hindi ko inasahang mangyayari ito,” she added.
[Translation: It’s terrifying because you don’t have your family here. I am so scared; I didn’t expect that I will experience this.]
The Philippine Embassy in Ankara said it has started distributing aid such as food, water, blankets, and cash to the affected Filipinos.
