In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkey, a heartwarming rescue story has emerged. Wrapped in a bundle of clothes, a cat named Strawberry was firmly secured in the arms of her owner, university student Kerem Cetin. The duo was trapped under the debris, but a team of lifesavers successfully found and rescued both.
As rescuers in red helmets reached the spot and attempted to pull out Cetin, he immediately asked them to save his cat before taking him out of the rubble, demonstrating his affection for Strawberry. Reuters posted a video showing Cetin’s love and care for his cat. In the footage, Strawberry looked scared and sad as the Turkish rescue team pulled her out, but she remained safe in Cetin’s arms.
“When a local rescue team found university student Kerem Cetin under rubble in Turkey’s Hatay, the earthquake victim immediately asked them to save his cat before pulling him out,” a user wrote on Twitter while sharing the video.
The earthquake and subsequent tremors left a devastating impact on Turkey and Syria, resulting in the loss of over 21,000 lives. Survivors are appealing to the government to evacuate them from the devastated area, while many are still stuck under debris. The government of Turkey reported that around 3,000 buildings, including public hospitals, collapsed in the earthquake. Rescue teams are still occasionally finding survivors, but most efforts are now focused on demolishing unstable buildings.
Turkey’s disaster management agency stated that more than 110,000 rescue personnel and over 5,500 vehicles, including tractors, cranes, bulldozers, and excavators, were involved in the rescue efforts. Dozens of people are scrambling around aid trucks in the hope of obtaining food or clothing. While many have found shelter in tents, stadiums, and other temporary accommodations, thousands are still enduring cold nights outdoors.
International aid is being offered from across the world, with the European Union planning to host a Donors’ Conference in coordination with Turkish authorities to mobilize funds in support of the affected people.
