The aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this week continues to grow, as thousands of people have been found dead. But among the wreckage and tragedy, there is still a great deal of hope.
Earlier this week, a Syrian family found a newborn baby trapped under the rubble. The baby girl, who still had her umbilical cord attached, was still alive.
A family was looking for survivors and lost loved ones in the rubble of their homes when they first encountered the newborn.
"We heard a voice while we were digging," Khalil al-Suwadi, a relative, told AFP.
"We cleared the dust and found the baby with the umbilical cord (intact) so we cut it and my cousin took her to hospital," Khalil continued.
As she was rushed to the hospital, the family continued their search for the baby's relatives. Her mother and father, Afraa and Abdullah, as well as her siblings, were all found dead. The family had a funeral for their lost relatives shortly thereafter.
According to CNN, it's likely that the mother gave birth before dying herself, sometime before the newborn was rescued.
Hani Maarouf, pediatrician at the hospital in Afrin where the baby is being treated, stated that she is now in stable condition.
The baby reportedly had a number of bruises and lacerations. She was also suffering from hypothermia due to cold temperatures in the area.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in Turkey, by its border with Syria. The devastating event destroyed buildings on both sides of the border, and is responsible for thousands of deaths.
By Wednesday, February 8th, the death toll between both countries climbed to over 11,000. At least 40,000 people have been injured.
Rescuers continue to search for survivors, and while they have had some luck, there has been a lot of tragedy.
While the death toll is expected to continue rising, the region also continues to find survivors, no matter the odds.
h/t New York Post
