Live updates: Miracle rescues as Türkiye, Syria disaster hits one-week mark

The death toll in Türkiye and Syria has climbed to more than 36,000, a week after two powerful earthquakes, centred in southeastern Türkiye, struck both countries, triggering a massive search and rescue effort amid grief and destruction.

As the disaster hits a one-week mark on Monday, hope remains that more survivors could still be found, after rescuers plucked two siblings aged 8 and 15 from the rubble in Hatay 183 hours into the search effort. 

In Türkiye, the death toll has reached 31,643, while the number of deaths in Syria reached 4,581, according to the latest figures.

Here is how you can help the earthquake victims.

Following are the latest updates:

Monday, February 13, 2023

0020 GMT - Mexico hails 'heroic' rescue dog that died in Türkiye 

Mexico paid tribute to a military rescue dog that died while searching for survivors buried under the rubble of the earthquake in Türkiye.

Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval announced the death of the German shepherd called Proteo at President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's daily news conference. 

"You accomplished your mission... thank you for your heroic work," the military said on Twitter.

2314 GMT - Turkish presidential Cabinet to convene Tuesday with focus on earthquakes

The Turkish presidential Cabinet will convene Tuesday with a focus on the recent deadly earthquakes, Vice President Fuat Oktay said.

The Cabinet meeting will take place at the headquarters of the Turkish disaster management agency AFAD in Ankara at 3 p.m. local time (1200GMT).

"We will be convening the Cabinet under the presidency of our President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) and our agenda is fully on the current disasters, the latest situation and the measures taken and to be taken," Oktay told reporters.

2155 GMT - US calls on all countries to 'do everything they can' to support Türkiye, Syria

The US called on all countries around the world to “do everything they can” to support the people of Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

“We're doing that in this country. This is an effort that transcends the federal government,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

“This is an effort where, once again, we've seen the generosity of spirit of the American people rise to the occasion,” he said, adding that the National Football League (NFL) encouraged American football fans on Sunday to contribute to ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Türkiye and Syria.

“The US continues to support search, rescue, recovery and relief efforts and to mobilise additional equipment and resources to assist in the recovery and humanitarian response efforts in both Türkiye and Syria,” he said.

2125 GMT — Rescue operations ongoing in southern Türkiye after last week's earthquakes

Rescue operations are still ongoing a week after powerful earthquakes struck southern Türkiye.

A woman was rescued from under the rubble 175 hours after the earthquakes in Hatay province. Naime Umay was saved by miners and firefighters dispatched to the region by the Istanbul Municipality, according to a statement.

Another woman was also rescued by search and rescue teams 176 hours after the quakes.

A man named Bunyamin Idaci was also rescued from the rubble 177 hours after the quakes in Adiyaman province.

Derya Akdogan, a 26-year-old woman, was also rescued in Hatay 178 hours after the quakes.

Another woman was also rescued from under the rubble 180 hours after the earthquakes. Hatice Akan, 39, was referred to medical teams.

Twelve-year-old boy Kaan was also rescued in Hatay 182 hours after of the quakes struck.

Two brothers were also rescued in Hatay's Antakya district 181 hours after of the quakes struck.

Eight-year-old Harun and 15-year-old Eyuphan were referred to a hospital.

Huseyin Berber, a 67-year-old man, was also rescued in Antakya 183 hours after of the quakes. 

1924 GMT — Spanish rescue teams praise Turkish people's 'extraordinary solidarity' during search efforts

Spanish rescue teams have praised the support of local people and authorities during their mission in southern Türkiye.

Spain was one of the countries that responded most rapidly to Türkiye's call for international assistance last Monday.

The team of 84 people consisting of logistics, coordination and health personnel was sent to Türkiye together with a field hospital equipped with the latest technology and drugs, capable of caring for 150-200 patients per day, hosting 20 people in beds, and performing surgery. 

1846 GMT —  Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government sends humanitarian aid to quake victims in Syria's Afrin

Northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish Regional Government has sent 13 humanitarian aid trucks to northwestern Syria.

The trucks, carrying first aid materials, food, and tents, entered the Babusselam Border Gate in Azaz through the Oncupinar Border Gate in Türkiye's southern Kilis province.

The trucks reached the town of Jinderes in the Afrin district, which was affected by the earthquakes.

1808 GMT — Turkish football club to donate UEFA Conference League ticket revenue to quake victims

Defending Turkish Super Lig champions Trabzonspor will donate their UEFA Europa Conference League ticket earnings to earthquake victims in the country, the club announced.

In a statement, Trabzonspor said tickets for the first leg of the play-off range cost between $5 (100 Turkish liras) and $40 (750 Turkish liras).

Cevad Prekazi, a legendary Kosovo-born veteran in Galatasaray, put an autographed jersey up for auction, with the $11,200 (210,000 liras) it sold for to go to victims of the earthquakes.

1715 GMT — Albania, North Macedonia mark day of mourning 

Albania and North Macedonia marked a day of national mourning over last week's devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

Flags of state institutions and public places were lowered to half-staff throughout the day of mourning declared by the two governments.

The overseas diplomatic representations of the two nations also lowered their flags to half-staff, as was Albania's at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"Albanians will never forget Türkiye's assistance in the earthquake that took place in Albania on November 29, 2019," said Albanian President Bajram Begaj.

1703 GMT — EU lawmakers start plenary session with silence grieving quake victims

The plenary session of the European Parliament started with a minute of silence to honour the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

“Europe stands with the people of Türkiye and Syria,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, opening the four-day plenary session in Strasbourg, France.

She called on EU lawmakers to honour the victims of the earthquakes’ “unimaginable destruction” with a minute of silence before they start the work.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those killed, those trapped, those injured and with all the rescuers fighting the clock night and day to save lives,” she said.

1623 GMT — UN Security Council meets on aid to quake-hit Syria

The UN Security Council meets behind closed doors to address ways to boost humanitarian assistance to Syria following the devastating recent earthquake, amid growing calls to open new border crossings to deliver aid.

The meeting requested by Switzerland and Brazil - the United Nations co-leaders on the Syria humanitarian file - will feature a presentation to council members by UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths, who this weekend visited Türkiye and Syria where anger over the pace of aid has swelled.

But even before the session, his message was clear.

"We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria," Griffiths said Sunday on Twitter.

"They rightly feel abandoned," he said, adding that it was the international community's obligation "to correct this failure as fast as we can."

1543 GMT — Türkiye's Red Crescent teams provide psychological first-aid

According to the Turkish Red Crescent statement, a 53-strong psychosocial support team consisting of psychologists, clinical psychologists, psychological counsellors, social workers, guidance specialists are providing psychological first aid to earthquake victims.

In addition to therapy sessions with children and adults, the psychosocial support team and volunteers also organise activities to reduce children's earthquake stress and trauma.

Also, psychosocial support tents will be set up in coordination with the Ministry of Family and the Ministry of Health.

The Turkish Red Crescent has received more than five thousand volunteer mental health experts' applications so far. Volunteer experts are planning to go to other provinces besides the quake-hit areas and organise informative training for earthquake victims via online and face-to-face therapies.

"Playgrounds, toys, colouring materials and children's books are needed to reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in children, and those who want to donate can access the list of needs through "www.kizilay.org.tr" or 168 call centres," the Turkish Red Crescent added.

1432 GMT — Uighur volunteers comfort survivors in Türkiye's quake-hit Kahramanmaras province

"As soon as we saw the extent of the destruction, we decided to come to Türkiye's Kahramanmaras province to help however we can," Seyit Tumturk, an Uighur Turk who hails from East Turkistan, said.

Tumturk is the head of the East Turkistan Culture and Solidarity Association and the East Turkistan National Assembly. Both organizations are based in Türkiye's central Kayseri province.

"After gathering aid contributions in Kayseri, we immediately set out for Kahramanmaras with a truckload of food, clothing, blankets, and mattresses," said Tumturk, who has been living in Türkiye since 1965.

"Since our arrival here, we have hardly slept at all," he added.

1418 GMT — Teenager rescued from rubble in Türkiye 182 hours after quake 

Rescuers pulled an alive 13-year-old out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay province, more than a week after a devastating earthquake struck.

The teenager held a rescuer's hand as he was placed on a stretcher, head braced, and covered for warmth before he was moved into an ambulance.

1355 GMT — Türkiye offers to open two border gates with Syria

Türkiye has offered to open two border crossings with Syria for the international community to send humanitarian aid to the quake-hit northern regions, the Turkish foreign minister said.

"We told the international community and the UN that they could send humanitarian aid through the two gates under our control. We said that we can open these gates to humanitarian aid," Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his Libyan counterpart Najla Al Mangoush in the capital Ankara.

The top diplomat was referring to the two border gates in the southern Kilis province.

He, however, added: “It is out of question for Türkiye to open border crossings in places (in Syria) controlled by the PKK and YPG.”

1330 GMT — Italian goalkeeper Buffon's gloves put on sale for earthquake victims in Türkiye

The gloves of Italian veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were put on sale to help earthquake victims in Türkiye.

Atalanta defender Merih Demiral said on Twitter that he auctioned the signed gloves of 45-year-old Buffon so that all proceeds from the sale will be donated to a Turkish NGO.

1250 GMT — NATO in 'strong solidarity' with quake-hit Türkiye: Stoltenberg

"Our thoughts remain with the Turkish people following last week's devastating earthquakes," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Brussels.

"Thousands of emergency response personnel from the NATO allies have been supporting the relief efforts, including with search and rescue teams, firefighters, medical personnel, and seismic experts."

He announced that the alliance and its members have agreed "to deploy shelter facilities to help accommodate people displaced by the earthquakes."

"I am not able to give you an exact date, but allies and NATO are working hard to deliver as much support as quickly as possible," he explained.

1139 GMT — Seventy-year-old Turkish woman rescued in Hatay, Türkiye

Rescue workers embraced one another after rescuing 70-year-old Nuray Gurbuz from the rubble of a collapsed 3-storey- building 178 hours after two 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Türkiye, including Hatay.

1124 GMT — Young woman recovered from rubble in Hatay, Türkiye

Twenty-six-year-old Derya Akdogan has been rescued from under the rubble of a collapsed building 177 hours after the two earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria. 

1049 GMT — Young girl rescued from rubble in Türkiye

A young girl named Miray was rescued from the rubble of an apartment block in the southeastern Turkish city of Adiyaman 178 hours after two devastating earthquakes shook the region, a minister and media reports said.

Turkish local media said the girl was six years old and that rescuers were also close to reaching her older sister.

Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu had earlier said she was four years old. 

 0939 GMT — Miracle rescue after 176 hours under rubble

Rescue workers in Hatay have saved Serap Donmez from under rubble of a collapsed building 176 hours following the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that hit multiple provinces of Türkiye and Syria. 

0935 GMT — Woman rescued in Hatay, Türkiye

Emergency service workers rescued a Turkish woman, Naide Umay, in Hatay after 175 hours under the rubble. 

0931 GMT — Another batch of relief goods from India on way to Türkiye

As people in India continue to come forward to donate for the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria, another batch of relief goods was sent to Türkiye, the Turkish ambassador to India has said. 

Ambassador Firat Sunel also said Turkish Airlines "carries the aid on a daily basis to the earthquake-hit region, free of charge."

Thanking India’s people for the donations, Sunel said: “Each tent, each blanket or sleeping bag is of vital importance for the hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors."

The Indian government is sending relief materials, medicines, equipment, and rescuers to earthquake-hit Türkiye and Syria under Operation Dost (Friendship Operation).

The government has sent a total of seven flights to the two quake-hit nations so far.

0918 GMT — Death toll rises above 31,000 in Türkiye

The death toll from catastrophic earthquakes that hit southeastern Türkiye has risen to 31,643, according to the country's emergency agency AFAD. 

0715 GMT — Death toll in Syria rises to 4,581

One week after the powerful earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria, sources from regime-controlled and opposition-controlled areas in Syria have reported that the death toll has now risen to 4,581

The White Helments said that 3,167 people were killed in the opposition-controlled areas.

Meanwhile, regime media said 1,414 people were killed in the quake in the regime-controlled areas.

0705 GMT — First batch of Indonesian humanitarian mission reaches Türkiye

Two Indonesian Air Force aircraft brought the first batch of the country's humanitarian mission to Türkiye to join the post-earthquake operations in the affected regions.

The aircraft carrying rescue personnel "Inasar", and heavy and light equipment along with humanitarian aid from Indonesia's Ministry of Defense landed at Adana Airport separately.

“After unloading passengers and cargo, the first plane immediately flew back to Indonesia. While the second plane, after being unloaded, flew to Ankara to rest and change the crew," Colonel Amir Ali Akbar, the Defense Attache at Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, said in a statement on Monday.

0605 GMT — China sends emergency items to Syria, asks Chinese rescue teams to stand down

China sent the second batch of supplies to earthquake-hit areas of Syria and has asked Chinese rescue teams that have not left for disaster zones in Türkiye and Syria to cancel trips in order to ease the burden on rescue operations.

The China Association for Disaster Prevention earlier called for Chinese rescue teams to cancel or suspend their trips to not increase the burden on hard-hit areas, and avoid risks due to inclement weather.

Cotton tents, family kits, jackets and other daily necessities, as well as medical supplies, were being provided to Syria by the Red Cross Society of China, CCTV reported on Monday.

China has already committed financial aid to Türkiye and Syria, and has sent a number of rescue teams from several parts of the country, including 82 members dispatched by the Chinese government, as the death toll tops 33,000 as of Monday morning.

0552 GMT — Aftershock triggers panic among rescuers in Kahramanmaras 

An aftershock reportedly measured at an intensity of 4.7 hit the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras late on Sunday triggering panic among rescuers as well as residents in the area.

Video clips posted on social media showed people rushing to get away from the rubble and damaged buildings as rescuers called for calm.

There have been hundreds of aftershocks that hit the southeastern region of Türkiye since the disaster a week ago.

0450 GMT — Woman rescued in Gaziantep 170 hours after the earthquake

Rescuers in Gaziantep have saved a woman who was trapped under the rubble for 170 hours.

News reports identified the woman by the name of Sibel Kaya.

Images posted on social media on Monday showed the survivor wearing an oxygen mask and wrapped in thermal blanket as medics carried her on a stretcher.

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