TUESDAY May 23, 2023: 'The LONG Wait: Two Families SAGA' by all time Pulitzer Prize (4 times) winning, ZUMA Press photo-journalist CAROL GUZY. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck. It takes a village to grieve such profound loss. Women packed the living room on the morning of the funeral to support their friend. The sense of community was more solid than the bricks and mortar that collapsed across Turkey. Now they have accepted their children are gone and just want to have a proper burial. Welcome to 'The LONG Wait: Two Families SAGA'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #889: TUESDAY May 23, 2023: 'The LONG Wait: Two Families SAGA' by all time Pulitzer Prize (4 times winning, ZUMA Press photo-journalist CAROL GUZY. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck. It takes a village to grieve such profound loss. Women packed the living room on the morning of the funeral to support their friend. The sense of community was more solid than the bricks and mortar that collapsed across Turkey. Now they have accepted their children are gone and just want to have a proper burial. Welcome to 'The LONG Wait: Two Families SAGA'

DAY SEVEN since Great Turkey-Syria Quake of 2023: NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and her son Mustafa wait by an open fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

DAY FIVE since Great Turkey-Syria Quake of 2023: Morning dawns over concrete and twisted metal, the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings in Hatay. Thousands were killed there and other cities in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023 after the deadly earthquake struck. The confirmed death toll stood at 59,259.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

DAY SEVEN of WAITING: NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra weeps as she looks through a suitcase found in the rubble holding clothes and baby items in Hatay. As families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

DAY SEVEN of WAITING: HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet, weeps as she looks through a suitcase found in the rubble holding clothes and baby items in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/Carol Guzy

NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet, weep as they look through a suitcase found in the rubble holding clothes and baby items in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Smoke rises from burning debris near a heavily damaged building, as trucks line up across the street in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Smoke rises from burning debris as trucks line up across the street in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

DAY EIGHT since Great Turkey-Syria Quake of 2023: NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and Hulva, mother of Hikmet, wait by a fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and Hvaa Yüzgüleç, mother of Hikmet, wait by a fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© February 13, 2023, Hatay, Turkey: NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and Hvaa Yüzgüleç, mother of Hikmet, wait by a fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.

NERIMAN SARAC and her husband BEKIR, parents of Zehra, have tea and breakfast provided by aid workers in a parking lot where they are camped right across from the collapsed building where rescuers continue to search for lost family members.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

DAY NINE since Great Turkey-Syria Quake of 2023: NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, washes up in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, sleeps by a fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet, shows wedding photos of her son and his wife and images of the children from albums that were found buried in the rubble in Hatay, after the deadly earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Family members show family albums with photos of children buried in the rubble in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Turkish soldiers watch as HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet (on left) and NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra try on donated shoes in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Hulya Yuzgulec, mother of Hikmet (on left) and Neriman Sarac, mother of Zehra try on donated shoes in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC and her husband BEKIR, parents of Zehra, and their son MUSTAFA (on left) wait for word from rescuers in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck. Thousands were killed there and other cities in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023. The confirmed death toll stood at 59,259.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rescue workers brought in dogs to search for signs of life after the massive 7.8 earthquake struck. Nearly 240,000 rescue workers, including volunteers, continue to work in the 11 quake-hit provinces in Turkey.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rescue workers brought in dogs to search for signs of life amongst the rubble after the devastating earthquake. Nearly 240,000 rescue workers, including volunteers, continue to work in the 11 quake-hit provinces in Turkey.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC, comforts other families in Hatay. Neriman, mother of Zehra, said in the first day of the earthquake that AFAD (a government rescue team) called them to say their daughter was alive. However, when they arrived, no one knew where she was. They held onto hope for 9 days even though they retrieved the bodies of Hikmet and his little boy Kaan who were found hugging in a bedroom. But not yet located were Zehra and her baby. For days they thought, just maybe, Zehra really survived and is somewhere in a hospital unable to communicate with them.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet, waits by a fire in the cold in Hatay, amongst the rubble of collapsed buildings. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, and her son MUSTAFA wait by an open fire in the cold in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rescue workers use metal cutting equipment while searching for bodies in the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck. Thousands were killed there and other cities in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023. The confirmed death toll stood at 59,259.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rescue workers search for bodies in the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings in Hatay. The confirmed death toll stood at 59,259.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC and her husband BEKIR, parents of Zehra, wait for word from rescuers who believe they identified their daughter's body amongst the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rescuers hold a blanket as the bodies of Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge are found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their collapsed apartment building in Hatay. The victims family had been camped out for weeks in a nearby parking lot awaiting news of lost loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC weeps as the bodies of her daughter Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge are carried to a transport truck after they were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their collapsed apartment building in Hatay. Neriman and family members had been waiting for weeks camped in a parking lot near the building waiting for news on lost loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

HULYA YUZGULEC, mother of Hikmet screams in anguish on the rubble of apartment building that collapsed on her son and his family as his body is identified in Hatay. Two families wait among others in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot in Hatay, Turkey as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC weeps as the bodies of her daughter Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge are carried to a transport truck after they were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their collapsed apartment building in Hatay. Neriman speaks wistfully of her daughter. 'Zehra was so joyful. She was very good at getting along with anyone. She was such a peaceful person. All her students loved her,' said Neriman proudly. 'She was curious. She read a lot, especially world classics. She was doing her major in child development as a second license in university. She wanted so much to have that diploma.'
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

MUSTAFA SARAC helps carry the bodies of his sister Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge after they were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their collapsed apartment building in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC weeps in the arms of her son MUSTAFA as the bodies of her daughter Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge are carried to a transport truck after they were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their apartment building in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Parents NERIMAN and BEKIR SARAC weep in the embrace of their sons IBRAHIM and MUSTAFA as the bodies of their daughter Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge are carried to a transport truck after they were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their collapsed apartment building in Hatay,
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

IBRAHIM SARAC and his mother NERIMAN pray after the bodies of her daughter Zehra Yuzgulec and her 1-year-old baby Bilge were found in a mortal embrace in the rubble of their apartment building in Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Dusty flowers in the rubble as families wait franticly for any news on loved ones lost under collapsed buildings after the deadly earthquake.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/

DAY TEN since Great Turkey-Syria Quake of 2023: A wreath of purple hearts hangs on the front door at the Sarac home as the community gathers after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa. Zehra, 34 and Hikmet Yuzgulec and their 2 young children perished when their apartment building collapsed as the earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother Neriman Sarac is embraced by an outpouring of love and support. It takes a village to grieve as community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa. Just days before the two families has waited in painful desperation in a parking lot in Hatay, as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive 7.8 earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Photos of her daughter and their family line the walls of their home as Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by an outpouring of love and support. It takes a village to grieve as community gathers at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC (L) is comforted by family members and friends as they gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

It takes a village to grieve as the community gathers at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by an outpouring of love and support as she looks at photos of her daughter and grandchildren in their hometown of Bursa. It takes a village to grieve as community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children and grand children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families who perished during the earthquake.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Wedding photograph of Hikmet Yuzgulec, 35 and his wife Zehra, 34 hangs at their parents home as the community gathers to grieve in Bursa. The couple were both killed along with with their children Kaan, 4 and 1-year-old baby Bilge when their apartment building collapsed during the massive 7.8 earthquake.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by an outpouring of love and support as she looks at photos of her daughter and grandchildren.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NERIMAN SARAC, mother of Zehra, is comforted as she prepares to bury her daughter and her family members in their hometown of Bursa. Families waited in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive earthquake struck Hatay in Turkey and Syria, killing thousands.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

It takes a village to grieve as Neriman Sarac, mother of Zehra, is comforted as she prepares to bury her daughter and her family members in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

MUSTAFA SARAC weeps and receives a hug as the family prepare to bury his sister and her family members in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

MUSTAFA SARAC weeps as the family prepares to bury his sister Zehra and her family members in their hometown of Bursa. Hikmet Yuzgulec, 35 and his wife Zehra, 34 were both killed along with with their children Kaan, 4 and 1-year-old baby Bilge when their apartment building collapsed during the massive 7.8 earthquake.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

BEKIR SARAC (R) prays in the Muslim faith during the funeral for his daughter Zehra in their hometown of Bursa. On far left is Zehra's brother MUSTAFA. Zehra, 34 and Hikmet Yuzgulec died along with their two young children when the earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

MUSTAFA SERAC (C) and mourners pray in the Muslim faith at a mosque during the funeral the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa. Mustafa's sister Zehra, 34 and husband Hikmet Yuzgulec, 35 with their children Kaan, 4 and 1-year-old baby Bilge were buried under their building in Hatay during the massive earthquake. They had been married 6 years.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Men pray in the Muslim faith at a mosque during the funeral in their hometown of Bursa for Sarac and Yuzgulec family members who perished in Hatay when the massive earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

IBRAHIM SARAC is embraced as he prays in the Muslim faith at a mosque in their hometown of Bursa during the funeral for his sister who was killed in Hatay with her young family when the massive earthquake struck.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Birds fly overhead as the Sarac and Yuzgulec families pray in the Muslim faith at a mosque during the funeral for their children in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A family member is laid carefully into the grave during a sorrowful muslim funeral held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Brother MUSTAFA SARAC is embraced as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A family member is laid carefully into the grave during a sorrowful muslim funeral held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC (L) is embraced as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC (C) is embraced as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother Neriman Sarac is embraced as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by community as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa. Mothers laid white flowers on their children's graves in a final farewell.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Friends and family weep as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by community as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Friends and family weep as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzggulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by community at the grave site during a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa. Her daughter Zehra, 34 and husband Hikmet Yuzgulec, 35 with their children Kaan, 4 and 1-year-old baby Bilge were buried under their apartment building during the massive earthquake. They had been married 6 years.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Flowers lay beside a simple wooden headstone during a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by community as a sorrowful funeral is held for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown cemetery in Bursa. Mothers laid white flowers on their children's graves in a final farewell.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Shoes belonging to friends and family members cover a stairwell outside the front door of the Sarac family apartment. It takes a village to grieve as community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Father BEKIR SARAC (L) is embraced by an outpouring of love and support. It takes a village to grieve as community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mothers HULYA YUZGULEC and NERIMAN SARAC are surrounded by an outpouring of love and support as women gather to pray in the Muslim faith. It takes a village to grieve as community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Prayers are read as mothers Hulya Yuzgulec and Neriman Sarac are embraced by an outpouring of love and support as women gather to pray in the Muslim faith for family members who perished during the massive earthquake.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mothers HULYA YUZGULEC and NERIMAN SARAC are embraced by an outpouring of love and support as women gather to pray in the Muslim faith. It takes a village to grieve as the community gathers at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother Neriman Sarac is embraced by an outpouring of love and support as women gather to pray in the Muslim faith. Days earlier the families waited in painful desperation for over a week in a parking lot as bodies of their loved ones are pulled from the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed after a massive earthquake struck Hatay.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother HULYA YUZGULEC is embraced by an outpouring of love and support as women gather to pray in the Muslim faith. The community gather at the Sarac home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Mother NERIMAN SARAC is embraced by an outpouring of love and support at her home after a sorrowful funeral for the children of the Sarac and Yuzgulec families in their hometown of Bursa.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire