Turkey-Syria earthquake: Three survivors pulled alive from earthquake rubble in Turkey, 10 days later

CNN
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At least three more people, including two minors, have been pulled alive from the rubble of the devastating earthquake, 10 days after it hit parts of Turkey and Syria.

Aleyna Ölmez, 17, was dubbed the “miracle girl” as she was pulled alive from the rubble in Turkey on Thursday, 248 hours after the February 6 earthquake, as rescue efforts hit transition to recovery operations ten days after the earthquake. disaster.

Neslihan Kilic, 30, and a 12-year-old boy named Osman, who told rescuers there were many people buried nearby.

At least 43,885 people have been killed across Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to authorities, following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake. Efforts to find survivors have been hampered by a cold winter across earthquake-stricken areas, while authorities grapple with logistical challenges in transporting goods. aid to northwest Syria amid an acute humanitarian crisis plus years of political conflict.

As Turkey is accused of the scale of damage, at least 54 people have been arrested in the country in connection with buildings destroyed or damaged by the earthquake, according to Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced a call for $1 billion in aid for earthquake relief efforts in Turkey over the course of three months. It comes two days after the United Nations issued a swift appeal for $397 million in earthquake aid to Syria, which also includes a three-month period as humanitarian organisations. emphasize the need for mental health and mental health services in affected areas.

The crew of Turkey’s state news channel TRT Haber visited teenager Aleyna Ölmez in the hospital room after the rescue operation and spoke with her, doctors and family members. Speaking from her hospital bed, TRT Haber cameras showed Aleyna with her eyes open, her body covered up to her neck and tubes fitted to replenish oxygen.

Alyena was taken directly to Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Faculty of Medicine after Thursday’s rescue operation.

A video shows Aleyna’s aunt and grandmother sitting by the bed, touching her face and kissing her hand. When TRT reporter Haber handed Aleyna the microphone to ask how she was, Aleyna shook her head and smiled.

Aleyna’s doctor, Professor Dilber, said he was surprised by Aleyna’s good health and told TRT Haber: “She couldn’t eat or drink anything the whole time (when she was lying down). ruins), but she is still in good condition. .”

Dr Dilber added that “since she was completely unable to move under the rubble, we can say that her inactivity protected Aleyna a bit and she needed energy and she did. Tolerable for the time being, but I guess we can’t explain it. in that way.”

By the time Aleyna was taken to the hospital, she was awake and able to talk to the doctors. “We have made the necessary interventions. Body imaging was done, and blood tests were performed. She is in very good condition,” Dr. Dilber told TRT Haber.

“There is no hypothermia. Blood tests also showed very good kidney function. Muscle enzymes are not too high. Fluid therapy begins immediately. After the infusion therapy, Aleyna is still talking to us very well,” he added.

Hacer Atlas, a member of the search and rescue team that saved the young victim of the earthquake told Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu that they were able to reach Aleyna after long efforts and tired.

“First we hold her hand, then we take her out. She is in very good condition, and she can communicate. I hope we continue to get good news about her,” Atlas said of the moment they found Aleyna.

TRT Haber later reported that Aleyna had been flown to the Turkish capital Ankara by plane.

Kilic, the 30-year-old woman rescued on Thursday, 258 hours after the earthquake, was also found in Kahramanmaras, where she and her family used to live on the seventh floor of the Ebrar apartment complex, according to her brother-in-law Gazi Yildirim.

Yildirim told CNN Turk that her husband and two children – aged two and five – are still under the rubble.

Despite the magnitude of the earthquake and the long wait to be rescued, Kilic was still able to talk and tell rescuers her name as they pulled her out of the rubble, he said.

Yildirim began to cry when he told CNN Turk that they had prepared a grave for Kilic.

“May Allah save others. She has two children and a husband who is still lying under the rubble,” Yildirim said.

Hours later, a 12-year-old boy named Osman was also rescued in the southern province of Hatay.

According to CNN Turk, Osman also appeared to be in relatively good condition and was found sitting in a pit surrounded by beams and rubble. He was taken to the hospital for a medical examination.

Osman told the rescue team that there was another person at the same location. Police used guide dogs to search the area after Osman was rescued and they ramped up their search for a second person.

The three join a small group of earthquake survivors who defied predictions that the time to survive had passed earlier this week. On Tuesday, a 77-year-old woman was pulled from the rubble in the city of Adiyaman about 212 hours after the quake struck. Anadolu reported.