WORLD

Turkey halts most rescue efforts for earthquake survivors

Feb 19, 2023, 1:00 PM
Turkish authorities say search and rescue operations will only continue in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş...
Kharamanmaras, Turkey: Members of a search and rescue team look for people under the rubble at the epicenter of the earthquake. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake with epicenter in Turkey's southeastern province of Kharamanmaras occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 6. (Ahmed Deeb/picture alliance via Getty Images via CNN)
(Ahmed Deeb/picture alliance via Getty Images via CNN)
Originally Published: 19 FEB 23 12:58 ET

 (CNN) — Turkey has ended most search and rescue operations, nearly two weeks after a huge earthquake killed tens of thousands of people, the country’s disaster management authority said.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway in 40 buildings in two provinces, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, the agency’s head Yunus Sezer said, according to state news agency Anadolu.

Survivors have continued to be found alive under the rubble since the quake struck. On Saturday, a couple and their 12-year-old child were rescued in Hatay, 296 hours after the earthquake, Anadolu reported. The child later died.

Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College London, told CNN that, while there is a precedent for people surviving for this many days after previous earthquakes, “it is unusual.”

“Fundamentally, our bodies can be resilient, but a lot comes down to sheer luck,” Kelman said.

There is a “hierarchy” of needs in these survival situations, he said. “The rule of thumb is three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, three weeks without food,” he said, meaning “there has to be survivable space…enough oxygen.”

Hatay was one of the worst affected of the Turkish provinces hit by the February 6 quake. At least 80% of its buildings will need to be rebuilt after being demolished, the province’s mayor Lutfu Savas said Sunday.

“We need more tents urgently. It will be cold for one more month. People are scared to stay at their homes, but they do not want to leave their animals behind, especially in urban areas,” he said in an interview with Turkish news channel Haberturk.

Turkey’s latest death toll now stands at 40,689 after 47 more deaths were reported, with the collective count across Turkey and Syria having risen to at least 46,530, Anadolu added.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

World

More stores now offer customers the option to tip, from coffee shops to ice cream stores. Around 48...
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN

Americans facing a radically different tipping culture

People are tipping less of inflation, and they are also overwhelmed with the number of places that give them the option to tip with a card
14 hours ago
nashville shooting...
JONATHAN MATTISE

3 children, 3 adults fatally shot at Nashville grade school

Multiple outlets are reporting that the gunman and at least three children are dead in a Nashville school shooting.
14 hours ago
Pennsylvania cany factory explosion...
Sara Smart, Samantha Beech, Zoe Sottile and Dakin Andone, CNN

Death toll from Pennsylvania candy factory explosion climbs to 4

A fourth person has been confirmed dead in an explosion at an eastern Pennsylvania candy factory, as rescue crews continue to search for three others.
2 days ago
Gov. Brad Little signed a bill this week that prohibits transgender students in the state from usin...
Sydney Kashiwagi, CNN

Idaho governor signs bill that restricts transgender students’ bathroom use in schools

Idaho governor Gov. Brad Little signed a bill this week that prohibits transgender students in the state from using public school bathrooms that do not align with their gender assigned at birth.
3 days ago
Members of the police work, after two migrants suffocated to death aboard a freight train that got ...
CNN

Two migrants found dead in shipping container on train in Uvalde County, Texas

Two migrants were found dead in a shipping container on a train the authorities stopped east of Uvalde, Texas, on Friday, according to local police.
3 days ago
tiktok logo pictured, a possible ban is looking...
Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN Business

Where TikTok users may go if the app gets banned

Washington's efforts to crack down on TikTok could ultimately benefit some of the same American tech companies that Washington has scrutinized.
3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...
BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.
Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a new winter activity? Try skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.
Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...
Intermountain Health

Five common causes of Cervical Cancer – and what you can do to lower your risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.
Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.
happy friends with sparklers at christmas dinner...
Macey's

15 easy Christmas dinner ideas

We’ve scoured the web for you and narrowed down a few of our favorite Christmas dinner ideas to make your planning easy.
Spicy Homemade Loaded Taters Tots...
Macey's

5 Game Day Snacks for the Whole Family (with recipes!)

Try these game day snacks to make watching football at home with your family feel like a special occasion. 
Turkey halts most rescue efforts for earthquake survivors