North Texas Turkish community center holding on to hope as earthquake death toll climbs

RICHARDSON, Texas — The death toll across Turkey and Syria is rising daily. Nearly 33,000 people have died. Rescue efforts are still ongoing 24 hours a day.

Local families living in North Texas are grieving the death of their loved ones. 

Ejder Kilic from the Raindrop of Dallas Community Center showed WFAA video of his village, “People under the buildings, this is where you come from, yeah, my born city.” 

The video showed the devastation from the earthquake in his birthplace in Turkey.

“People are all outside, all are my relatives,” said Kilic.

Relatives that Ejder said he never got a chance to say goodbye to.

“Day by day it’s getting worst. They found his body with his baby, my cousin,” said Kilic.

It’s been a week since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit in Turkey and Syria, killing countless lives.

“There was hope for the people alive, but hope is finished now, because of the coldness,” said Kilic.

Aftershocks are still being felt.

“It is shaking, small small shaking,” said Kilic.

Over the weekend, there was a benefit dinner held in honor of Turkey. Every person that showed up had a story to tell. 

They even had stories of hope.

Kilic’s friend was waiting in front of his parents collapsed building in Turkey.

Kilic shared a story about his friend. He said, “Six days and nights, 24 hours, he waited there. He was getting crazy. Now, we’re very happy. Why he’s happy, because they found mom’s and father’s body.”

Many local families continue to wait by the phone to learn about their loved ones.