West Brom's Okay Yokuslu admits pain after Turkey and Syria earthquake horror
Albion midfielder Okay Yokuslu has opened up on his pain at the deadly earthquakes that have struck his homeland Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
The death toll today passed 5,000 people following two devastating quakes early on Monday morning.
The initial 7.8 magnitude tremor hit south east Turkey, near the border with Syria just after 4am local time before second shock further north, 12 hours later.
The devastation has been felt worldwide, with numerous countries all offering their support in the vast search and rescue mission.
Albion player Yokuslu, a Turkey international capped 39 times by his nation, has taken to social media to reveal his sadness.
"We are very sad, may God help us," Tweeted 28-year-old Yokuslu, who left his homeland to play in Spain, and subsequently England, in 2018.
"I hope we can provide the necessary assistance as soon as possible.
"May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives, I wish a speedy recovery to our wounded."
Yokuslu was born in the city of Izmir, in the west of Turkey. He moved east to Kayseri-based Kayserispor in 2011 and then on to Trabzonspor, in the north east, in 2015.
He added: "It hurts so much to watch and listen. I hope we will get through these difficult days together. It's time to unite, my dear country."
The popular Baggies player also shared a photo of a wife and husband in a bid to help locate a missing family, among the many thousands unaccounted for as search teams scour heaps of rubble.
Yokuslu also took to Instagram to share information of organisations offering aid to his homeland, including how to donate to The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), AKUT Search and Rescue Operation and disaster support organisation AHBAP.
After a successful loan spell in 2021, Albion made Yokuslu a permanent player last summer.
