Mustafa Avci, who was trapped in the rubble after the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Turkey for 11 days, has seen his wife and newborn daughter again.

As the Anadolu news agency reports, 34-year-old Mustafa Avci, who was rescued in Antioch after 261 hours, saw his family again, his wife Bilge and his newborn daughter Almile, only 12 days old, in a hospital in Mersin where he is being treated.

Avtsi, during his transfer to the Hospital, communicated via video call with his parents, who showed him his newborn baby. “I had completely lost all hope. It’s a real miracle. They gave me back my son. I saw the wreckage and thought no one would get out of there alive,” his father said.

Turkey earthquake: Death toll exceeds 45,000, expected to rise dramatically as many people still missing

Meanwhile, more than 45,000 people have died in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria and the toll is expected to rise dramatically as 264,000 flats have been destroyed in Turkey and many people are still missing in the worst disaster in the country’s modern history. .

Eleven days after the deadly earthquake, three survivors were freed yesterday, Friday, from the ruins of buildings in Turkey. The death toll in the country remains at 39,672, while in neighboring Syria over 5,800 deaths have been reported. The toll in Syria remains the same for days.

Yesterday in mosques around the world memorial prayers were said for the dead of the earthquake in the two countries, for many of whom it has not been possible to follow the full rites of burial given the enormity of the disaster.

Although many international rescue teams have left the extensive quake zone, domestic teams continued to search the flattened buildings today, hoping to find other people who may have managed to stay alive beyond all expectation. According to experts, most rescues take place in the 24 hours following an earthquake.

Hakan Yasinoglu, about 40, was rescued in southern Turkey’s Hatay province 278 hours after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on February 6, according to the Istanbul Fire Department.

Earlier, 14-year-old Osman Halebigeh and 34-year-old Mustafa Avci were rescued in Antioch, Turkey.

Aid organizations note that survivors will need help for months as many important infrastructures have been destroyed.

In neighboring Syria, already torn by more than a decade of civil war, most of the casualties are in the northwest, an area controlled by rebels who are at war with President Bashar al-Assad. The conflict has complicated relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake.

The two sides clashed overnight for the first time since the disaster, with government forces shelling the outskirts of Atareb, a rebel-held town badly hit by the earthquake, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday.

Reuters was unable to independently verify this information.

Thousands of Syrians who had sought refuge in Turkey to escape their country’s civil war have returned home to the war zone — at least for now.

Anger

Neither Turkey nor Syria has announced how many people are still missing after the earthquake.

Anger is growing among families still waiting for news of their relatives in Turkey over what they say are corrupt building practices and a flawed urban development that has resulted in thousands of homes and businesses collapsing.

One such building was the Ronesans Rezidans, which collapsed in Antioch, killing hundreds.

“It was said to be earthquake-safe, but you can see the effect,” said Hamza Alpaslan, 47, whose brother lived in the apartment building. “He’s in a terrible state. There is neither the cement nor the proper irons in it. It really is hell.”

Turkey has vowed to investigate anyone suspected of being responsible for the building collapse and has ordered the arrest of more than 100 suspects, including builders.

The UN appealed on Thursday to raise more than $1 billion in funds for the aid operation in Turkey and $400 million to provide aid to Syrians.

APE-Anadolu Information Sources