Turkey earthquake: Mother dreams two sons still alive, never gave up hope

REYHANLI - Every day, 38-year-old Muna Abdul Razak will travel 200 metres from the temporary settlement to her residential building that collapsed in Antakya in the earthquake tragedy that shook the country on Feb 6.

Her only purpose is to find her eldest son, Munir Abdul Razak, 17, and her youngest son, Majid, 13, who have been missing since the tragedy struck.

Muna Abdul Razak's family home was completely destroyed in Antakya in the tragedy of a strong earthquake that hit Turkiye on Feb 6.

At one point, Muna's hopes faded away after the search and rescue teams told her that her sons could not possibly have survived considering the magnitude of the damage to the seven-storey building in which they stayed.

But Muna did not lose hope, as she said she had dreamed of her sons, whom she still believed were still alive.

"I dreamed that my son told me that they are safe, and because of that, I tried to find them despite being stopped by the authorities because the area is dangerous.

"I don't sleep well. I can't even eat. I'm constantly thinking about them," she said when met by Sinar Harian at her relative's house in this city.

Muna said that in the last three days, she had completely lost her voice after calling out for her sons day and night, regardless of the weather condition.

"With patience and the will to find my sons, and with Allah SWT as my guidance, my children survived. They only suffered minor injuries.

"They were trapped in the room after the collapse of the stone wall and ceiling," she said.

Looking back on the incident, Muna said that when the quake occurred, she and her husband, Nazim Abdul Razak, 42, and second son, Majid, 15, were sleeping in the living room while Munir and Yamil were sleeping in the bedroom.

"The three of us managed to escape, but Munir and Yamil couldn't get out because the wall of the house on the fifth floor had collapsed," she said.

Munir (right) and Majid when met by Sinar Harian at their uncle's house in Reyhanli, Turkey.

As soon as Munir and Yamil were rescued, Muna couldn't hold back her tears while expressing her gratitude to Allah SWT for answering her prayers.

Sinar Harian, Syria Care, and Task Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) are currently in Turkey on a humanitarian mission to distribute aid to earthquake victims, including in Syria.

The public can participate in this mission by donating to the Sinar Karangkraf Syria Care #DisasterRelief Fund.

Those who wish to contribute can channel the donation to the account of Maybank Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, 564276-529068.

Donations to the Sinar Karangkraf x Syria Care #DisasterRelief Fund can be made via this link: https://info.sinarharian.com.my/tabung-bantuanbencana-sinar-karangkraf-x-syria-care/