– I called and called, but no one picked up the phone.
Ahmet Sönmez is sitting at home in Tønsberg, and has just received a message from his sister, who lives in Ankara, that a large earthquake has hit their home town of Kahramanmaraş.
This was before the natural disaster could be seen on the news and in the newspapers.
Both Ahmet’s parents, brother and friends live in the earthquake-stricken city.
He does not get in touch with any of them.
Video shows what it looked like when Ahmet Sönmez arrived in his devastated hometown. Video: Ökkeş Sönmez/Dagbladet TV
sea view
– Sits until all are found
Dissolved in tears
Ahmet was actually going to work the morning after the earthquake struck.
It was becoming too difficult, as he did not yet know how his family was doing.
– I tried to go to work, but I just had to go home again. My thoughts were with my family, he says to Dagbladet.
He talks about some tough days until he got in touch with his family.
– I just cried and cried. It was absolutely horrible.
DISASTER: Not much remains of the town Ahmet once knew. Photo: Private
sea view
Four flights later
He quickly decided to go to his hometown, but there was no easy way to get to the crisis area.
– I had to change planes four times, he says.
When he landed in Denmark, he was able to talk to his family on the phone, and heard that everyone in the family was doing well.
– It was an incredibly great relief to hear that, he says.
Comes with prayer: – It’s horrible
– Does not show half
When Ahmet arrived in Kahramanmaraş, he brought his sister’s family with him in the capital Ankara.
The sight that met him was terrible, according to himself. A city he had grown up in and knew well was unrecognizable.
– The media don’t show half of what it looks like here, he says.
Ahmet says that the conditions in the city were absolutely terrible in the days after the earthquake.
– My family had to wait two days before help came. They had no food and clothing. They survived the two days on biscuits and water.
Although Ahmet’s family has recovered, several of his friends are still missing.
– Some are dead. Others, I don’t know how it goes, he says.
MAJOR DESTRUCTIONS: There isn’t much traveling back to for Ahmet’s family. Photo: Private
sea view
Found after a week
Post-traumatic stress
Ahmet’s family is apparently doing well in the capital, nearly seven hours away from the earthquake area.
Still, they are unable to put the disaster behind them.
– They are still afraid. They talk about the earthquake, and are afraid that there will be more earthquakes. They are completely paralyzed, he says.
His family is now going to a psychologist for help.
– It will take a long time before they feel well again, says Ahmet.
Ridiculed after this
NOK 45,000
The shortage of vital products, food and clothing is enormous in the war-torn area.
Ahmet and his wife Hedda have started a splicing collection to be able to help.
– We have collected over NOK 45,000, says Ahmet.
– Children dig for the dead
The money has been used to send, among other things, clothes, food, hygiene products and carpets to Turkey.
After being in Turkey for two weeks, Ahmet will soon return home to Norway.
However, the plan is to return soon to help the family.
– I’ve spent two weeks on holiday, so I don’t quite know how I’m going to travel back down, but I’m going back, he says.
