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When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, the owner of popular Jersey takeaway Turkish Delight felt he "didn't have any choice" but to head for his hometown to rescue his family.
Speaking on the Bailiwick Podcast from Turkey, island resident of around 20 years Cuma Dagilan described the devastation he witnessed, and detailed his amazing 850km journey across the country in a rented van to bring his loved ones - including children as young as 15 months old - to safety.
The death toll from the earthquake, which initially struck Syria and Turkey on 6 February, is reported to have risen to more than 46,000 and Cuma explained that he had lost his aunt and cousin.
"All the houses have gone, everything is gone," he said "The earthquake started from Pazarcik and this town is upside down. I would say that 99% of these people don’t have a house or most of their house has gone."
Pictured: Cuma, who has been a Jersey resident for around 20 years, rented a van to go to Turkey and rescue his loved ones.
He added: "[My family] are really scared. They are especially scared about the young children we have. My sister has a little baby who is 15 months old and another child.
"My brother has a two-year-old and a seven-year-old. They are very small kids, and then my mum and dad are very old."
Cuma is now staying in rented accommodation in Antalya and said that he was helping to fill vans heading towards the affected area with essential supplies.
He is also fundraising to help support those affected by the earthquake and has currently raised around £2,000 via JustGiving.
You can read more about Cuma's experiences in today’s Jersey Evening Post, in the paper itself or its online edition.
To hear Cuma speaking from Turkey, listen to the podcast below or on your favourite podcast player by searching 'Bailiwick Podcasts'...
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