A 2-week-old baby girl was pulled alive from the rubble of an apartment building in eastern Turkey on October 25, CBS News is reporting. The baby was rescued with her mother and grandmother 48 hours after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake brought down about 2,000 buildings.
The baby, Azra Karaduman, was removed from the crushed concrete and metal. Azra was reportedly in good health, but was still flown to a hospital in Ankara for observation. Her mother, Semiha, was semi-conscience when she was found, but woke up when rescuers arrived.
Azra was clinging to her mother’s shoulder when rescuers found them, and the two were huddled with the baby’s grandmother, Gulsaadet. There was a bakery on the ground floor of the building they were trapped in, which may have kept them warm.
Authorities have said the death toll has risen to 432, as rescuers in Ercis and the provincial capital, Van, raced to free dozens of people trapped under concrete, steel and construction debris. At least nine people were found the same day as Azra, but many more bodies were discovered.
Authorities have warned survivors not to enter damaged buildings. Thousands of people spent a second night in cars or tents in near-freezing conditions, as they were afraid to return home. Approximately 1,300 people have been injured.
Written by: Karen Benardello
