A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has claimed thousands of lives in Turkey and Syria and caused immense damage. The catastrophe affects the Turkish-born comedian Kaya Yanar particularly deeply. He has eight deaths in his extended family, including three teenagers, he writes in an emotional statement on Facebook.

Part of his family is still in the devastated city of Antakya to care for the deceased, but most have left the city. "There is nothing for them there anymore. All their homes are dilapidated or destroyed," writes Yanar. His mother organized accommodation in Antalya for the other relatives. There they have a roof over their heads and food, but they are traumatized. The images of destruction, which the comedian impressively describes, are "absolute horror".

Kaya Yanar wonders how his life would have been if his mother and father had stayed in Antakya. Perhaps he would have "cried out for help for the last few days under the rubble of my parents' hometown". More than ever, the comedian is grateful to his "parents for coming to Germany."

Special thanks also go to all helping hands in Turkey, Syria and abroad. "Despite my broken heart, tears of sorrow are mixed with tears of gratitude," writes Yanar in reference to the great solidarity. So that this does not subside, the comedian has launched donation streams. The money raised goes to organizations like "Doctors Without Borders". Yanar ends his post with the words "Thank you for your help".