Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: more than 44,000 dead, according to a new report

More than 44,000 people have died after the earthquake that devastated southeastern Turkey and northern Syria 13 days ago, according to a new report from the authorities announced on Saturday, while two buried people have been saved. .

Almost 300 hours after this earthquake of magnitude 7.8 which occurred on February 6, the chances of finding survivors are dwindling day by day.

It is the region's deadliest natural disaster in centuries.

Very few survivors

On Saturday, a man and a woman were found after spending 296 hours trapped in rubble in Antakya, state news agency Anadolu reported, which broadcast footage of their rescue.

On the other hand, a 12-year-old child found at their side died a few minutes after efforts were made to save him.

According to the latter, three of the couple's children, including the 12-year-old, died in the earthquake.

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Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca released a video of the 40-year-old woman in a field hospital while receiving treatment.

“

,” he tweeted.

The earthquake, which occurred in one of the most active seismic zones in the world, hit inhabited areas where buildings were unable to withstand such powerful tremors.

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Officials and doctors said on Saturday that 40,642 people died in Turkey, while in Syria the death toll, stable for several days, is 3,688, bringing the total confirmed to 44,330 killed in the disaster.

More than 84,000 buildings have collapsed, are in urgent need of demolition or have been badly damaged in the earthquake.

Buildings that are too weak

The drama puts Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under great pressure due to slow rescues and construction deficiencies.

In 1999, following an earthquake that killed more than 17,000 people in northwestern Turkey, authorities promised that building regulations would be tightened.

In vain.

The building where footballer Atsu died, a 12-story luxury building, was built in 2013 when Turkey had stricter building standards.

Turkish police have since arrested the building contractor as he tried to flee the country, Anadolu reported last week.

Police have also arrested dozens of contractors as the government vows to crack down on lax building standards.