Turkey Earthquake: Nigerian Survivor Recounts Terrifying Ordeal

Emmanuel Olaitan Johnson, a Nigerian residing in Turkey has narrated how he and his family survived the earthquake that claimed the lives of over 4,400.

In the aftermath of the natural disaster which struck on Monday, more than 300,000 blankets, 41,504 family life tents, 101,738 beds, 148,482 pillows and sheets, 4,602 kitchen sets, 3,761 heaters, 4,452 tube caps, 557 containers and 747 units of large tent have been sent to Turkey's southeastern provinces.

Speaking with BBC Pidgin, Olaitan revealed that he was wearing only pants when it all started.

He said he managed to grab his wife and children and dashed into the snow without any other piece of clothing.

Jonhson and his family

“I was in my building and I noticed it was shaking but I wasn’t perturbed at first.

"But when I saw a crack in the wall, I grabbed my wife and children and ran out of the house.

“As I speak to you, I and my family are now homeless", he shared.

Johnson is one of those living in Gaziantep, one of the affected cities in Turkey.

He further disclosed that he had just finished watching the 9/11 terrorist attack documentary before the incident began.

According to him, the earthquake struck at about 4:17 am.

"Before my house broke down, I ran inside twice to pick shoes for myself, my wife and children and also pick up our documents.

"We were dressed in singlets and boxers and my children were walking in the snow barefoot.

"While I was using my building’s staircase, I almost lost my footing while climbing because of the earthquake’s magnitude and how the building was shaking", Johnson added.

He said that to stay safe, some individuals took shelter in sports centres and museums with string structures.