Bosnian musician plays tongue drum for quake victims in Türkiye

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Bosnian musician Ognjen Ranisavic is collecting aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye by playing the tongue drum that is known for its interesting structure.

Ranisavic is performing on the busiest street in Banja Luka to assist the victims of the Feb. 6 deadly quakes that killed thousands in Türkiye.

"I think we should share the pain and needs of the people around us,'' said Ranisavic.

He will perform every day until the beginning of March and send the aid to Türkiye and Syria.

Meanwhile, 30 container houses will be sent to Türkiye from Kalesija.

The Mercy Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered aid to victims in Syria.

Children attending the International University of Sarajevo kindergarten in Bosnia and Herzegovina also showed solidarity with survivors in Türkiye by drawing pictures with words such as "Get well soon" and "Friends."

Sabahudin Spahovic, a member of the Federal Civil Protection Agency (FUCZ), participated in search and rescue operations in Türkiye and returned home with a cat that was rescued from the rubble.

Spahovic, 49, named his adopted cat Aleyna Ölmez.

''I focused on my experiences in Türkiye and thought of the girl (17-year-old Aleyna Ölmez), who was rescued at the 248-hour of the earthquake. Thus, I named the cat Aleyna,'' said Spahovic.

He said the cat will always be reminiscent of the disaster that hit Türkiye and a symbol of life.

''Unfortunately, it will always remind us of the pain of Turkish citizens but it will also keep the memory of the little girl who survived. This cat will be a symbol of life. The effects of trauma are gradually decreasing. Now he eats and sleeps well,'' said Spahic.

At least 44,218 people have been killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye.

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa.