Turkey, Syria earthquake: Family of 5 safely pulled from rubble
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Earthquake: A woman salvages a small stove and a gas canister, as search and rescue operations continue in Turkey. (Mohammed Al-Rifai/AFP via Getty Images)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ANTAKYA, Turkey — Rescue teams in Turkey pulled a family of five to safety from their collapsed home on Saturday, five days after a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the area.
The death toll from the earthquake has topped 25,000, but on Saturday crews rescued a mother and daughter from the rubble before pulling three other family members from the debris, The Associated Press reported.
Havva and Fatmagul Aslan were extricated from a mound of debris in the town of Nurdag, according to the Turkish newspaper HaberTurk. Teams later reached the family’s father, Hasan Aslan, but the man insisted that crews first rescue his other daughter, Zeynep, and his son, Saltik Bugra, the AP reported.
After the siblings were freed, Haslan Aslan was brought out of the building as rescuers cheered, according to the news organization.
The number of people rescued is now nine, according to theAP.
The family was rescued 129 hours after the earthquake first hit the area of southern Turkey and northwest Syria, Reuters reported. According to the AP, hopes of finding more survivors have diminished as the area endures freezing temperatures.
Other people rescued included a 16-year-old boy and a 70-year-old woman, CNN reported.
The teen, Kamil Can Agas, asked his rescuers, “What day is it?” according to a report from NTV television after the boy was pulled out of the rubble in the city of Kahramanmaras.
The United Nations’ aid chief, Martin Griffiths, described the earthquake as the “worst event in 100 years in this region,” according to the BBC.
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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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A framed portrait remains on a wall of a collapsed building 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Fireman Erhan Sarac and other rescue team members celebrate each other just after a successful evacuation 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of the victim of the earthquake to the mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, 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 Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, 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 Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue volunteer walks around collapsed buildings 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Policemen check a local man to prevent potential looting in front of ruined Elbistan Tax Office building on February 10, 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)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Turkish and Mongolian rescue workers celebrate to survival of Hulya Kabakulak, 48-year-old survivor, at the site of a collapsed building after 90 hours on from the earthquake on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, 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 Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, 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 Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of a victim of the earthquake at mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, 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 Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake An injured man is helped by a resident to slide out of the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents walk along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents carry an injured child from the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighboring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A resident walks along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake A resident stands in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
Earthquake Residents stand in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)
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