Earthquake in Turkey: Woman feeds her buried cow for eleven days – animal survives

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Destroyed houses in Kahramanmaraş province: The couple survived with minor scratches

Photo: TOLGA BOZOGLU / EPA

Birgül Tuncay never gave up on her buried cow.

For eleven days, the farmer fed her trapped cow named Birican in a village in south-eastern Turkey, the broadcaster CNN Türk reported.

»I love my animals like my children«

Now Tuncay has reason to be happy, helpers have been able to free the animal.

"Today I am very happy, thank God," said farmer Tuncay in a video.

»I love my animals like my children.«

The sale of her milk will ensure the survival of the family, the woman told the state news agency Anadolu.

Videos showed the woman climbing into the rubble with hay to get to the cow over the past few days.

The Tuncay couple from the village of Dardagan in the province of Adiyaman survived the earthquake with minor scratches.

Her animals, however, were hit harder.

Only two of her cows reportedly survived.

Their 15 goats and 30 chickens were killed.

The cow, freed after three hours of rescue work, is now receiving medical care.

Apr