A North Belfast woman has opened up about her fears as her husband sleeps in a tent after his family home was destroyed in Turkey.
Jade and Hüseyin Özbey met in Turkey when the Ballysillan woman was on holidays - after falling in love, the pair tied the knot in October last year.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Jade said she was speaking to her husband the night that tragedy struck the region. Their niece had been blowing kisses through Facetime – now their calls are taken over by fear.
READ MORE: Barber who lost five family members in Turkey quake calls for safer buildings
"That night, we were both talking and he was telling me it was snowing," she said.
"Normally, I would go over at the end of January to Turkey. Last year I was snowed in and my flight was delayed for two days, so this year I said I would leave it until the end of February.
"Only for that, I would be there now. He was on Facetime with me, him and his five-year-old niece. I woke up at 5:30am and lifted my phone and seen an earthquake had hit. When I read where, I had a sick feeling. That's where he and his family are.
"At that moment, I didn't think it was going to end up the way it has. I sent him a message to ask what had happened and when it didn't deliver, panic started to set it. Nothing would go through to his phone, no connection at all. It was hours before I heard from him.
"When I saw his name come up on my phone, I was so relieved. Their house is gone, and they are living in a tent. There's two wee children, age five and seven months. They can't get anything. It is awful."
Jade's sister set up a Go Fund Me page online to raise some money to help the family over the next number of days and weeks. Through the generosity of family, friends and strangers, over £2,000 has been donated so far.
The response, Jade says, has moved her to tears.
"I feel completely useless here, in Belfast. But I have to just keep going, and carry on," she added.
"It is horrible that I can't be there with them in Adıyaman . I don't know what to do. When I try and ring him and don't hear back, I am so worried.
"When my sister said she was going to set up the Go Fund Me, I was unsure, because people don't have money. We are all getting things tight. She set the target for £1,000 and now there is over double. I am totally humbled and cannot believe the generosity people have shown.
"People who don't know us, haven't met my husband, they just want to help. I've been totally blown away by it. It has been unreal."
Please follow this link to view the Go Fund Me page.
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