Six days after the devastating earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble. Emergency services fight tirelessly against the clock. They are rewarded with many a miracle, even babies can be saved alive. According to official counts, more than 30,000 people have been killed.
Almost a week after the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, emergency services rescued more survivors. According to Turkish media, the helpers managed to free a toddler and a teenager from the rubble on Sunday night.
A video posted on Twitter by Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansi showed helpers rescue a 13-year-old girl from the rubble in the city of Gaziantep during the night. At the same time, a seven-month-old boy was pulled from the rubble in Hatay province, according to the IHA agency.
Savior: “Lovely feeling”
Aid workers from the Technical Relief Agency (THW) in the city of Kirikhan managed to rescue an 88-year-old victim on Saturday evening in collaboration with Turkish emergency services. It was “an amazing feeling” to get someone out alive after such a long time, said an EMT involved in the operation.
Mother and daughter rescued from rubble
According to Turkish media reports, a two-year-old woman had previously been rescued in Hatay, and in Kahramanmaras province, rescuers had pulled a 70-year-old woman alive from the rubble. Anadolu Ajansi also reported on Saturday about the rescue of 35-year-old Özlem Yilmaz and her six-year-old daughter Hatice from a collapsed building in Adiyaman province. Also rescued on Saturday was a baby just two months old (pictured below) who had been trapped under the rubble for more than 128 hours.
Arrest of contractors
A magnitude 7.7 quake shook the border region early Monday morning, followed by another magnitude 7.6 quake in the afternoon. Since then, there have been more than 2,000 aftershocks in the region through Saturday. Turkish Vice President Oktay said prosecutors under orders from the Justice Ministry had set up departments to investigate earthquake-related crimes in 10 quake-hit provinces. 131 people were identified as responsible for buildings collapsing. Arrest warrants had been issued for 113 others.
Missions sometimes had to be interrupted
The chances of recovering survivors diminished as time went on. Turkish authorities set up makeshift morgues in parking garages, stadiums and gyms where desperate families searched for their dead loved ones. The difficult security situation on the ground also delayed the rescue operation of several aid groups.
The Austrian soldiers – as well as German and Hungarian helpers – had to temporarily interrupt their deployment because the work had become too dangerous. Increasing aggression between groups in Turkey – including gunfights – would have necessitated this decision.
The number of victims could still “double or more”
The number of confirmed fatalities has now risen to more than 30,000. According to the authorities, 29,605 fatalities were recovered in Turkey on Saturday. On the other side of the border in Syria, according to official figures, at least 3,575 people have died. Nearly 80,300 injuries have been recorded so far. An accurate estimate of the deceased is still difficult. According to UN emergency coordinator Martin Griffiths, the number of victims could “double or even be more”.
Pope calls for help in affected areas
Meanwhile, during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, the pope called for help for the strong earthquake-hit areas in Syria and Turkey: “Let’s stay close to the people who have had to experience this terrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria.” On Wednesday, he had called for international aid for the inhabitants of the earthquake zones, especially for Syria.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
