In pictures: Families hang on to hope in earthquake-devastated Turkey

Rescuers continue to search for survivors in Turkey and Syria amid plummeting temperatures.

1 min read

11 February, 2023

A woman clutches the backpack of her relative who is still trapped under debris in Iskanderun, Turkey. [William Christou – TNA]

Murad Oonay stands in front of a building that he rescued his 14-year old niece from in Antakya, Turkey. [William Christou – TNA]

Residents of Iskanderun, Turkey sit atop the wreckage of a building which fell in Monday’s devastating earthquake. [William Christou – TNA]

600 Konut complex, an upscale apartment complex of about 3,000 people in Antakya, Turkey, was almost completely destroyed by the deadly earthquake in Turkey, [William Christou – TNA]

Gizem Gurbuz awaits anxiously as first responders rescue their 12-year old neighbour, Kimet, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Antakya, Turkey. [William Christou – TNA]

Rescue workers widen a hole they made into a building to save a suspected survivor from beneath the debris of a collapsed building in Antakya, Turkey. [William Christou – TNA]

A playground is occupied by families waiting for their relatives to be saved by first responders in the 600 Konut complex in Antakya, Turkey. [William Christou – TNA]

Rescue efforts continue in earthquake-devastated southern Turkey, where more than 20,000 people died following Monday's earthquake that also affected areas of northern Syria.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Saturday that nearly 93,000 victims have been evacuated from the quake zone in southern Turkey and that more than 166,000 personnel were involved in the rescue and relief efforts.

There have been 1,891 aftershocks since the first quake early on Monday, it added.

More rescued in Syria, Turkey as quake toll nears 23,000

MENA

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The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Monday's quake was the largest Turkey has seen since 1939, when 33,000 people died in the eastern Erzincan province.

Officials and medics said 17,674 people had died in Turkey and 3,377 in Syria from Monday's tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 21,051.

Experts fear the number will continue to rise sharply.

In addition to a staggering human toll, the quake's economic cost appears likely to exceed $2 billion and could reach $4 billion or more, Fitch Ratings said.