Earthquake Tragedy: Pregnant woman gave birth under the debris in Syria - She died, the baby was saved - Watch video

By 1 year ago

There are so many shocking stories recorded after the earthquake in Turkey in Syria left thousands dead as the rescue crews - among them Greeks - fight a superhuman struggle to locate those trapped under the debris.

One such story is one recorded in  Syria's largest city, Aleppo.

As a Twitter user reported by publishing the relevant videos, a woman, whose identity has not yet been revealed, gave birth while trapped in the debris. The rescuers, however, who managed to reach her after a titanic effort, found that the woman had lost her life.

At the same time, however, as it was established, the newborn was located and retrieved alive, proving the power of life over death.

The feeling was similar in the city of Kahramanmaraş, one of the areas severely affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Rescuers managed to retrieve alive a 24-year-old woman who remained trapped under the rubble for 27 hours.

After heavy rain and significant snow in southern Turkey and northern Syria, it will generally get drier and sunnier through this week.

Some snow showers are still possible on Tuesday but with colder air digging in, freezing conditions will cause even more concern.

In Gaziantep, where the first quake struck, it will be around 4-6C by day - but plummeting overnight to -7C. It could be as low as -15C in the towns and villages towards the mountains.

It won't be as cold in Syria, but no more than 10 or 11C by day and -3C by night.

In Turkey, the number of people who've died because of these earthquakes has risen to 3,381, according to the country's disaster authority.

Orhan Tatar, an official at the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), says a further 20,426 have been injured and 5,775 buildings collapsed.

The new count brings the combined death toll in Turkey and neighbouring Syria to 4,890.

This number is likely to keep rising, stay with us for all the latest developments.

Turkey's disaster and emergencies agency AFAD says 2,660 personnel from 65 countries have been sent to help in the search and rescue operation.

Together with the Turkish rescuers, 13,740 people have already been assigned to work in the disaster area. They are using 629 cranes and 360 vehicles.

The AFAD also says an air bridge has been established, and 146 aid-delivering sorties have already been made.

In total, 300,000 blankets and 41,504 family tents have been delivered, along with heaters and kitchen sets.

Rescuers are racing against the clock with several factors in their way now, a critical care expert said.

The lack of water and oxygen are critical barriers to survival, said Dr Richard Edward Moon of Duke University.

Each adult loses up to 1.2 litres of water daily.

"That's urine, exhale, water vapour and perspiration if there is any. At the point where eight or so litres has been lost, that's when a person becomes critically ill," said Dr Moon, who was speaking on BBC Newsday.

A new strong earthquake is now reported in central Turkey.

The US Geological Survey says a 5.5 magnitude tremor was at a depth of 10km (6 miles) near the town of Golbasi.

Meanwhile, the France-based European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put the strength of the quake near Golbasi at 5.6, adding that it was at a depth of 2km.

Both agencies said the tremor happened at 03:13 GMT on Tuesday. They provided no further details.

Red Crescent President Kerem Kınık warned people not to drive their cars to earthquake zones to donate relief supplies.

“Vehicles fell on 50m fault fracture on the roads. There is snow and ice on the roads," he said.

He asked people to instead donate food and supplies such as blankets, coats and boots to Red Crescent, which will distribute them, instead.

The group is also calling for blood donations, to help save the wounded.

READ MORE: Gaziantep Castle: 2,200-year-old fortress used by the Byzantines collapsed in Turkey earthquake (VIDEO)

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