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‘Hard to accept’: Orlando couple among Turkey, Syria earthquake victims

By Demie Johnson, WFTV.com and Brittany Caldwell, WFTV.com
By Demie Johnson, WFTV.com and Brittany Caldwell, WFTV.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned two people killed in the earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria were from Orlando.

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Alex Ilgin and his wife Veronika got married in July and returned to Turkey to visit family and explore options to start a family of their own.

The couple’s best friend and business partner said they died when their apartment collapsed, along with Alex’s mom.

“They found each other wrapped in each other’s arms,” Vasilios Poulos said.

Read: AT&T offers support to customers following earthquake in Turkey, Syria

Poulos said they stayed on the third floor of a five-story building when the earthquake hit.

“A friend called and asked me if they were alive, and I said, ‘what are you even talking about,’” Poulos said.

Read: Central Florida groups working on relief efforts for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

He said that the shock had not subsided.

“I’ve called him twice today, no answer,” Poulos said. “It’s hard to accept that someone can be gone, truly gone, where to the point where you can never speak to them again.”

Poulos said he knew the pair well because he and Alex had been business partners for several years.

Orlando couple among Turkey, Syria earthquake victims Veronika Ilgin, right, and Alex Ilgin, left (Vasilios Poulos /Vasilios Poulos)

Read: Titusville nonprofit donates water purifiers to earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria

“Alex was unbelievably charitable,” he said. “He would give when he had nothing, whether it’s time, money, anything.”

And now, Poulos is doing the same in Alex’s honor.

“I have been told by boots on the ground that they need supplies badly,” he said. “So, of course, I want to help Alex and Veronika’s family because they’ve lost everything, but also give resources directly to the people who need it.”

Poulos will host a tribute for Alex and Veronika Monday at 8 p.m. at Cafe 34 Istanbul. A portion of the proceeds will go to their GoFundMe page.

Click here to help the couple’s surviving family members and click here to help people in Turkey who need supplies.

See a map of the location below:

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Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue dog smells the debris of a ruined building while search and rescue operations continue on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

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