While many international rescue teams have left the huge quake zone, domestic teams continued to search through flattened buildings on Saturday, defying barriers and hoping to find survivors. Experts say that most rescue operations take place in the 24 hours following an earthquake.
The Istanbul Fire Brigade said Hakan Yasinoglu, in his 40s, was rescued 278 hours after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck overnight on February 6 in the southern province of Hatay.
Earlier, 14-year-old Osman Halebiye and 34-year-old Mustafa Avcı were rescued in the historic Turkish city of Antakya, known in ancient times as Antioch. As Avicii was taken away, she was placed on a video call with her parents, who showed her their newborn baby.
His father said, “I had completely lost hope. It is a true miracle. They gave me my son back. I looked at the wreckage and realized that no one could be rescued from there.”