Despite the earthquake striking southern Turkey over 100 hours ago, rescue efforts are still underway and have led to the successful rescue of many survivors. The collaboration between Turkey and international rescue teams has proven to be effective.
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An Israeli army rescue team is seen at the site of a collapsed house in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, at 8:34 p.m. on Feb. 10 |
The city of Kahramanmaras in southern Turkey, located near the earthquake's epicenter, has seen devastating consequences. Tall residential buildings in the city center have completely crumbled, and it is estimated that thousands of people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
On the evening of the 10th, around 8 PM, a round of thunderous applause echoed through the crowd as two boys aged 15 and 12, and their mothers, were successfully rescued from a collapsed building in the city center. Rescuers utilized heavy machinery to locate the three trapped individuals, and after hearing their voices, spent approximately three hours digging by hand to reach them. They had become trapped in a small opening within the rubble.
Firefighter Lutufu Kochal, hailing from Erzurum in northeastern Turkey, who participated in the rescue efforts, stated, "Although there are many heartbreaking moments, it brings joy to see the smiles on people's faces as a result of our success. With determination, we can save even more." According to Turkish media reports, over 100 individuals have been rescued, 72 hours after the earthquake struck, when the chances of survival were low.
International forces are actively participating in the rescue mission as well. The Anatolian News Agency reported that as of the 9th, Turkey had received assistance from approximately 4,500 rescue and support troops from 60 different countries. The largest contingent, consisting of 450 members from Israel, has rescued 19 individuals in Kahramanmaras since the 7th. On the 9th and 10th, a family of three, including a 9-year-old boy, was successfully rescued from a house after a 40-hour operation.
The Israeli rescue team boasts a 40-year history of experience in disaster zones worldwide. According to Shani Hector, a Public Relations Officer, in this case, they gathered information from residents and other sources to create a blueprint of the collapsed building and devised a plan to reach the most probable location of survivors. They carefully excavated a 25-meter tunnel within the building, while ensuring the stability of the structure, and provided sustenance in the form of food and water to the families they found. The three individuals were rescued after their health improved due to the sustenance provided.
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| Israeli forces at the site of a collapsed house are seen in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, on Feb. 10, 2023, at 8:39 p.m. |
Hector emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Saving lives is our top priority at this time." Nights in Kahramanmaras are extremely cold, and even survivors trapped in the rubble are at risk of succumbing to hunger or the harsh temperatures.
According to Reuters, the earthquake has claimed the lives of over 24,150 people as of Thursday, with more than 20,650 fatalities in southern Turkey and over 3,500 in northwestern Syria. The quake has left hundreds of thousands of individuals homeless, with many taking refuge in tents without proper heating or even sleeping in vehicles. On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to take all necessary measures to locate missing individuals and to reconstruct the destroyed houses within a year.
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