A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing thousands and displacing thousands more. Some VALORANT gamers have felt the horrific impacts.
Several aftershocks with magnitudes greater than six have hit the two countries since the initial quake this morning.
Dot Esports reached out to several Turkish VALORANT players after the earthquake. Some of them have mentioned family members they haven’t heard from in a long time who are likely dead or buried in the rubble of a building that collapsed during the quake.
The Fnatic player Emir “Alfajer” Ali Beder and his family are safe. He informed Dot Esports. He expressed a wish to help anyone who could have had family members who were hurt in the earthquake.
Natus Vincere player Mehmet “cNed” Yağız İpek informed Dot Esports he and his family are safe. He, alongside other gamers, is publishing multiple cries for help from Turkish citizens who want to reach family members trapped in the rubble.
Former Heretics player Melih “pAura” Karaduran is safe. However, some of his family members have yet to contact him. Some of his cousins are helping with the relief effort to find others. He told Dot Esports.
“as Riot Games Turkey, our hearts are devastated by the loss of many,” the VALORANT Turkey Twitter account said following the earthquake. We hope all ground-based rescue personnel reaches the victims as quickly as possible. We also extend our heartfelt sympathy to everyone affected by the earthquake,” according to a translated message from a representative at Dot Esports.
The focus of the rescue mission is on the northern parts of Syria and the southern parts of Turkey. BBC News reports that about 1,900 people have died from the earthquake, with the death toll continuing to rise. There are likely thousands of civilians who have not been found.
The second earthquake in Turkey was captured on camera during a live broadcast of the country’s search-and-rescue efforts.
Close friends seek to reach former UnknownPros Female team member Gizem “Luie” Harmankaya. She currently resides in Kahramanmaraş, one of the Turkish cities affected by the earthquake on February 6.
