Heartwarming support for a keepsake lost in the earthquake: The ring that mobilized Hatay

On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 occurred in southeastern Turkey, centered in Kahramanmaraş and Elbistan.

These earthquakes caused massive destruction across 10 provinces, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives.

One of the places where the pain was felt most deeply was Hatay. 

Zehra Alın, who lost her mother and father in Hatay, lost a ring that was a keepsake from her mother on the coast of Hatay. Stating that she was waiting for a miracle, Zehra Alın shared a photo of her ring on social media and wrote the following lines: 

“I lost the only keepsake I had from my mother, whom I lost in the earthquake, yesterday on the beach near Aslan Hause in Konacık, Arsuz, Hatay. We have been searching until this hour… I am sharing this here in the hope that there might be a miracle for me. If there is any, I want to use the only miracle in my life right now, please, my God.”

Zehra Alın’s ring from her mother has not yet been found, but the miracle she was waiting for has come true. 

The message she wrote was viewed by approximately 6 million people with the support of social media.

Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Öntürk supported Zehra Alın’s message by saying, “We are looking, my daughter.” 

Arsuz Mayor Sami Üstün also stepped in to help find Zehra Alın’s ring. 

Following the support of millions, Zehra Alın published this emotional message on her social media account: 

“I am reading every message written with goosebumps. I don’t know how to thank each and every one of you. I am surprised that the loss of my ring has caused me to be this happy. I wonder if my mother couldn’t bear to see me feel even more alone. I cannot hold back my tears…

To those who want to have the same ring made, those who want to send a keepsake of their own mother, and @HatayBSB @mehmetonturktr @ArsuzBelediyesi @samiustunbb who have been searching for hours, I don’t know what to say in the face of your presence. Even if you cannot find my ring, thank you all very much.”

News Source: 12punto