Trapped for 60 hours, OFW in Turkey tapped metal on rubble to get rescuers’ notice

An overseas Filipino worker is now getting better at a hospital after she was rescued from under the rubble of what used to be her employer’s residence, one of many which were destroyed following the massive earthquake that hit Turkey last week.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras”, OFW Julieva Benlingan was trapped for 60 hours, her head and a foot caught in debris. Still, she said didn’t feel thirst or hunger while under the ruin.

"It's a big miracle. I'm a living testimony... that God is really there for us,” Julieva said.

She did feel disheartened after hearing rescuers and calling out to them, only for them not to hear.

“May mga tao na sumisigaw na, ‘May tao ba d'yan?’ in their language. Sabi ko, ‘Yeah, I am here. I'm here, help me!’ I am crying for help...Para akong nakikipag-sigawan sa kanila but then sabi nila pala, hindi nila ako marinig,” she said.

(I heard people asking if there’s someone under. I answered and asked for help but they later told me they did not hear anything.)

“Pinatugtog ko 'yun, sabi ko, ‘Andito ako’, para mag-ingay ako. Siguro 'yun ang way para marinig nila ang ingay ko...Isang metal na pinukpok ko na na-stuck sa ulo ko,” she added.

(I used the metal stick and created noise. That was my way of telling them I was there.)

Benlingan is now in a better condition as she receives treatment in a hospital.

Meanwhile, the OFW sought help from authorities to go back to the Philippines.

“Kung fully-recovered na po sana ako, sana po matulungan ako makauwi rin sa Pilipinas at sana rin po makapunta rin 'yung anak ko rito kasi gustong-gusto ko na rin po makasama 'yung anak ko,” she added.

(Once I fully recover, I would like to ask for help to go home. I also hope my child can go here in Turkiye because I miss him.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News