"Heartbroken" Turkish native appeals for donations to support earthquake victims

A Turkish native from Kells who says he is "heartbroken" at the devastation caused by an earthquake on his country is appealing for donations to support the people of Turkey.

Aydin Uyanik (39) who owns Aydin's Turkish Barbers on Church Street in Kells says he is "in shock" at what has happened and admitted it is difficult to watch the scenes of destruction on the news which has claimed the lives of over 11,000 people in both Turkey and Syria.

The 7.8 magnitude quake is the most powerful tremor to have hit the region in at least a century, leaving thousands injured and an unknown number trapped in the rubble.

Aydin who is from Kusadasi on Turkey's Western Coast says he was worried when he heard the news and after confirming that his family was safe decided he needed to take action.

"I am absolutely heartbroken at the devastation caused by the earthquake on the people of my country," he said.

"A customer text me on Monday saying sorry to hear what happened back home. I hadn't heard at that point as it was 4am in turkey, the next thing I turn on the news and I saw a massive earthquake.

"I tried to make contact with my family. I am from the west of Turkey and it is the south and east of Turkey that was hit by the earthquake so thankfully they are far away and were not affected but so many people are."

Aydin who has lived in Ireland for 16 years put a call out on social media just yesterday appealing for donations of supplies for the victims of the disaster and says he is "overwhelmed" with the response.

"We have got a massive response, it's incredible, we must have 25 boxes full of supplies all of which will be delivered to the the Turkish Embassy in Dublin at the weekend where Turkish Airlines will then deliver the supplies to the emergency response teams in Turkey."

"The people of Kells and all over have been so generous.

"We have so many donations of warm clothing including coats and hats and scarves because there are extreme freezing temperatures there at the moment.

"It's just a small thing to do to try and help those people who have had their lives destroyed in Turkey and Syria and so many have lost entire families."

The Kells business man says although he is not from the region hit by the earthquake it is "shattering" seeing his people suffer.

"I wasn't working on Monday and I started watching the news from 7am through until midnight. There's an image going around on social media of a father clutching the hand of his teenage daughter who is dead underneath the rubble. I can't even imagine because I have two kids myself.

"I have to try and get away from it at the moment because mentally I'm starting to get affected."

Donations of warm clothing, hygiene products, baby food, nappies and other supplies can be left into Aydin's Turkish Barber's in Kells today (Wednesday) and tomorrow.