An exhausted Avcı was later reunited with his wife Bilge and daughter Almıl at a hospital in Mersin.
Aid organizations say survivors will need help for months to come after the destruction of so much vital infrastructure.
In neighboring Syria, already torn apart by more than a decade of civil war, a large number of deaths have occurred in the northwest, an area controlled by rebels who are at war with President Bashar al-Assad – a conflict that In which there are complex efforts to help the people affected by the earthquake.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Friday that the two sides fought overnight for the first time since the disaster, with government forces shelling the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Atreb, badly hit by the quake.
The report could not be independently verified.
Thousands of Syrians who took refuge in Turkey from their country’s civil war have returned to their homes in a war zone – at least for now.
anger grows
Neither Turkey nor Syria has said how many people are still missing after the earthquake.
For families still waiting to repatriate relatives in Turkey, anger is mounting over what they see as corrupt building practices and deeply flawed urban development that has resulted in the shattering of thousands of homes and businesses.
One such building was the Roneson Residences (Renaissance Residence), which toppled in Antioch, killing hundreds.
“It was said to be earthquake-safe, but you can see the results,” said Hamza Alpslan, 47, who lives in the apartment block. “It is in terrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It is a real hell.”
Turkey has promised to investigate anyone responsible for the buildings’ collapse and ordered the detention of more than 100 suspects, including developers.
The United Nations on Thursday appealed for more than $1 billion in funding for Turkish relief operations, and has launched an appeal for $400 million for the Syrian people.