Times Colonist E-edition

Victoria woman relieved family members in Syria safe after earthquake

PEDRO ARRAIS

A Victoria woman says she spent a sleepless night worrying about family living in the region affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and northwestern Syria early Monday, causing extensive damage and thousands of deaths.

Safaa Naeman, who fled Syria to escape the civil war six years ago, left behind an older brother, Mustafa, and younger sister, Hanan, who lived in Idlib in northwestern Syria.

After hearing about the earthquake, she couldn’t reach either and spent the night awake, waiting for them to call her.

“I just shook. I couldn’t sleep all night,” said Naeman, who runs a catering business. “I was so worried.”

She was relieved when her sister called Monday morning to tell her that both families were safe.

“She said that she was safe, but that her house in the city of Idlib was extensively damaged and she couldn’t return home,” said Naeman, who now lives in Victoria with husband Fadi Saidissa and their sons, age 17 and 15. “They said that the damage was worse than the war, worse than anything they had ever experienced.”

Her sister told her that the tremors lasted almost two minutes and that all the buildings in the city were destroyed.

The earthquake also knocked out power and internet service. Her sister had to walk to find an area where cellphone service was still available to call Naeman and let her know that her family of seven was safe, as was their brother, his wife and three boys.

Hanan said that after the original tremor, up to 40 aftershocks rocked the city and parts of the Aleppo countryside.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canada is ready to provide help in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Canada stands ready to provide assistance,” he wrote in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these major earthquakes, and our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones.”

Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether any Canadians were affected in Turkey and Syria.

CANADA / WORLD

en-ca

2023-02-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaltimescolonist.pressreader.com/article/281616719524323

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