TWO Turkish takeaway owners have spoken of their relief at learning their relatives are safe and well at the centre of the earthquake catastrophe.

Guven Gozacan got a telephone call from his brother, Rasim, 43, and sister, Safak, 39, four hours after vibrations from the earthquake reached Istanbul.

Guven, 30, of Shuttleworth Street, Earby, runs the Mediterranean Turkish take-away in Redearth Road, Darwen. He has been in regular contact with relatives.

He said: "My brother and sister live quite high up in apartment blocks but luckily they were not hurt, although they are both still in shock and are worried about the future."

Kemal Giray, who runs the Istanbul takeaway, Church Street, Colne, heard from relatives just hours after the quake hit. Kemal's relations live in Adapazari, just 25 miles from the earthquake's epicentre, and Istanbul, which was less badly affected.

"I was so happy to hear they were all all right," said Kemal."We were very worried about them."

Kemal's uncle Yilmaz Giray suffered the most. He owns a shop in one of the main streets of Adapazari, a city three times the size of Colne that was devastated by the quake. "His shop, where he lives, has been badly damaged," said Kemal. "The rest of the street is mostly flattened.

"Almost 40 per cent of the properties there are badly damaged and 20 per cent of them are just flat. The city has been devastated and people are living outside in the open because they are scared more buildings will collapse. About 500 people have died in the city. Luckily my uncle and my other relatives survived including my parents who live in Istanbul."

The latest death toll stands at more than 4,000 and is expected to rise as rescuers recover bodies from the rubble.

Erdogan Simsek, who runs the Happy Haddock takeaway in Darwen Street, Blackburn, is still waiting for news from his wife and three children, who are on holiday less than 10 miles from the epicentre of the quake.

Erdogan, 38, who lives in Bolton, has been glued to the news hoping to see his wife Fidan, their daughters Senay, 14, and Alev, 10, and their six-year-old son Harkan.

"I am worried sick about them but there is nothing I can do at the moment except wait and hope they are all right and have not been injured. According to the news there is only one person who has died at the place where they are staying, so that has given me some hope."

Three East Lancashire firefighters are among a crew due to fly to Turkey today to help find survivors. Divisional officer Pete Thorne from Burnley is leading the team, which also includes station officer Andy Barnes and firefighter Mark Southworth, both from Blackburn.

They are taking thermal imaging cameras and heavy lifting gear.

The team has previous experience of disasters in Armenia, Iran, Colombia and Macedonia.

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