Six-month-old baby and mother rescued alive from under rubble after Turkey earthquake


Nada AlTaher
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Follow the latest on the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

A six-month-old child and her mother were rescued from under the rubble after being trapped for nearly 30 hours in Turkey following the deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday.

Rescue workers pulled out baby Ayse who was barely crying and appeared to be dirty but unscathed.

  • Members of International Search and Rescue Germany board a charter plane with a search dog at Cologne-Bonn airport, Germany. Reuters
    Members of International Search and Rescue Germany board a charter plane with a search dog at Cologne-Bonn airport, Germany. Reuters
  • Members of the Dutch search and rescue team USAR arrive at Eindhoven Air Base to board a cargo plane. AFP
    Members of the Dutch search and rescue team USAR arrive at Eindhoven Air Base to board a cargo plane. AFP
  • Fifty members of the HUNOR Hungarian Rescue Team in Budapest prepare to depart for Turkey. EPA
    Fifty members of the HUNOR Hungarian Rescue Team in Budapest prepare to depart for Turkey. EPA
  • Greek firefighters with rescue dogs wait to board a military plane at Elefsina Air Force Base, in western Athens, Greece. AP
    Greek firefighters with rescue dogs wait to board a military plane at Elefsina Air Force Base, in western Athens, Greece. AP
  • Czech urban search and rescue firefighters at Leos Janacek Airport in Czech Republic. AP
    Czech urban search and rescue firefighters at Leos Janacek Airport in Czech Republic. AP
  • Members of International Search and Rescue Germany at Cologne-Bonn airport, Germany. Reuters
    Members of International Search and Rescue Germany at Cologne-Bonn airport, Germany. Reuters
  • Swiss team with rescue dogs at Zurich Airport. EPA
    Swiss team with rescue dogs at Zurich Airport. EPA
  • A Greek rescue team departs from Elefsina military airport to arrive at the Incirlik airport base in Turkey. EPA
    A Greek rescue team departs from Elefsina military airport to arrive at the Incirlik airport base in Turkey. EPA
  • Spanish firefighters with their equipment at Barajas international airport in Madrid, Spain. AP
    Spanish firefighters with their equipment at Barajas international airport in Madrid, Spain. AP
  • Romanian rescue workers arrive at the military airbase near Bucharest, Romania, for a last briefing before being sent to southern Turkey. EPA
    Romanian rescue workers arrive at the military airbase near Bucharest, Romania, for a last briefing before being sent to southern Turkey. EPA

The mother, Hulya, emerged shortly after, able to walk and wearing a neck collar in Hatay province.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more than 8,000 people have been rescued so far as more than 53,000 rescue personnel assist with the efforts.

The death toll in Turkey alone has risen to 3,549, Mr Erdogan said. More than 6,000 buildings have collapsed.

A Turkish boy, 9, also donated his savings to relief efforts after he survived an earthquake last year, state news outlet Anadolu Agency reported.

“The mother and son visited the Duzce branch of the Turkish Red Crescent and handed over his pocket money to the authorities for them to deliver it to his peers in need,” said the report.

The boy, Alparslan Efe Demir, also wrote a letter to the survivors about his own experience.

“It is OK if I do not buy chocolate here. Children there should not be cold or hungry. I will send my clothes and toys to the children there,” he said in his letter.

Turkish Airlines said it transported more than 11,000 volunteers to help in rescue efforts.

They were taken to Adana, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, and Urfa, CEO Bilal Eksi said, “with a total of 80 flights” as of 7am on Tuesday, Anadolu reported.

Nine hours after the first quake, another powerful one hit causing further damage. Geologists believe more aftershocks will hit in the coming days.

The biog

Siblings: five brothers and one sister

Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota

Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym

Favourite place: UAE

Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera

What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: February 07, 2023, 3:12 PM