Turkey halts most rescue efforts for earthquake survivors

February 19, 2023

admin Published: February 19, 2023 | Updated: February 19, 2023 2 minutes read

Earthquake disaster in Turkey - Kharamanmaras

PRODUCTION - 18 February 2023, Turkey, Kharamanmaras: 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. People in earthquake-ravaged areas must continue to expect strong tremors in the coming days. Photo: Ahmed Deeb/dpa (Photo by Ahmed Deeb/picture alliance via Getty Images)

(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.

PRODUCTION – 18 February 2023, Turkey, Kharamanmaras: 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. People in earthquake-ravaged areas must continue to expect strong tremors in the coming days. Photo: Ahmed Deeb/dpa (Photo by Ahmed Deeb/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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.