Turkey and Syria are still reeling from the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck nearly two weeks ago. Rescue operations are still going on and humanitarian aid from around the world is pouring in.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Three people rescued alive after 12 days in Turkey

<p>In a piece of heartbreaking news, the agent of Ghana footballer Christian Atsu confirmed that the former Newcastle United player has been found dead under the Turkey earthquake rubble at his collapsed home. The Ghanaian player Christian&nbsp;Atsu had been missing since the February 6 earthquake which hit Turkey as many commercial buildings and apartments, including the apartment of the 31-year-old player in Antakya, Hatay, had collapsed.</p>

<p>"We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey's devastating earthquakes. A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters. Rest in peace, Christian," wrote Newcastle United FC in a tweet.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey's devastating earthquakes.<br />
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A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.<br />
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Rest in peace, Christian. 🖤🤍</p>
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1626867903055163392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness. Rest in peace," wrote Hatayspor.&nbsp;Hatayspor said that the body of player Christian Atsu, who lost his life under the collapse, is on his way to be sent to his hometown Ghana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His agent Nana Sechere, who has been in Hatay, confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter, writing: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well-wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning. My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support."</p>

<p>Christian Atsu, Ghana's national football team player, was first reported missing in Turkey in the aftermath of massive earthquakes that hit the Middle East nation. Later, it was reported he has been found alive in&nbsp;the rubble but now the latest news from his agent confirms that the player lost his life in the catastrophic earthquake.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="Also Read | Ahead of Seoul-Washington joint exercise, North Korea fires ballistic missile">Ahead of Seoul-Washington joint exercise, North Korea fires ballistic missile</a></p>

<p>He has been playing for Hatayspor in Antakya city in the Turkish Super Lig, since September after stints with Newcastle United, Everton, and Porto. According to several reports, the player was caught in the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Turkiye and Syria on 6 February. Newcastle was eagerly awaiting word of Atsu and had tweeted a message filled with hope then but the heartbreaking news now had dawned sadness on everyone.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Atsu played with Newcastle for five seasons after arriving on loan from Chelsea in 2016. During his stint with Newcastle, he assisted the team in regaining Premier League status. Hatayspor's is based out of Antakya, a city in the southern Hatay province of Turkiye, not far from the Syrian border.</p>

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<p>A day before the quake hit Turkey, Atsu had participated in a match, entering as a substitute and scoring the game-winning goal against Kasimpasa at home. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkiye and northern Syria the following day. The deadly quake was followed by another 7.5-magnitude jolt. The death toll in the catastrophic earthquake has crossed 45,000.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In a piece of heartbreaking news, the agent of Ghana footballer Christian Atsu confirmed that the former Newcastle United player has been found dead under the Turkey earthquake rubble at his collapsed home.

In a piece of heartbreaking news, the agent of Ghana footballer Christian Atsu confirmed that the former Newcastle United player has been found dead under the Turkey earthquake rubble at his collapsed home. The Ghanaian player Christian Atsu had been missing since the February 6 earthquake which hit Turkey as many commercial buildings and apartments, including the apartment of the 31-year-old player in Antakya, Hatay, had collapsed. "We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey's devastating earthquakes. A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters. Rest in peace, Christian," wrote Newcastle United FC in a tweet. We are profoundly saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in Turkey's devastating earthquakes. A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters. Rest in peace, Christian. 🖤🤍 — Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 18, 2023 × "We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness. Rest in peace," wrote Hatayspor. Hatayspor said that the body of player Christian Atsu, who lost his life under the collapse, is on his way to be sent to his hometown Ghana. His agent Nana Sechere, who has been in Hatay, confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter, writing: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well-wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning. My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support." Christian Atsu, Ghana's national football team player, was first reported missing in Turkey in the aftermath of massive earthquakes that hit the Middle East nation. Later, it was reported he has been found alive in the rubble but now the latest news from his agent confirms that the player lost his life in the catastrophic earthquake. Also Read | Ahead of Seoul-Washington joint exercise, North Korea fires ballistic missile He has been playing for Hatayspor in Antakya city in the Turkish Super Lig, since September after stints with Newcastle United, Everton, and Porto. According to several reports, the player was caught in the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Turkiye and Syria on 6 February. Newcastle was eagerly awaiting word of Atsu and had tweeted a message filled with hope then but the heartbreaking news now had dawned sadness on everyone. Also Read | Researchers recover beautiful silver wedding dress from 17th-century shipwreck Atsu played with Newcastle for five seasons after arriving on loan from Chelsea in 2016. During his stint with Newcastle, he assisted the team in regaining Premier League status. Hatayspor's is based out of Antakya, a city in the southern Hatay province of Turkiye, not far from the Syrian border. Watch | Protesters throw bricks and bottles at security personnel, violent protest grips Suriname capital A day before the quake hit Turkey, Atsu had participated in a match, entering as a substitute and scoring the game-winning goal against Kasimpasa at home. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkiye and northern Syria the following day. The deadly quake was followed by another 7.5-magnitude jolt. The death toll in the catastrophic earthquake has crossed 45,000. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Chelsea forward Christian Atsu found dead in Turkey quake rubble, confirms agent

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidbJIvTVUcv9Gm" /><meta charset="utf-8" />If reports are to be believed, the Pakistani government has repackaged the aid it had received from Turkey during the 2022 floods and delivered it back as earthquake relief material to the disaster-struck country.&nbsp;The Turkish authorities, upon opening the relief material found it had the&nbsp;message they had written for the Pakistani flood victims last year.&nbsp;The Turkish relief material was delivered to Sindh, a southwestern region of Pakistan which was one of the worst-hit areas due to the flood,&nbsp;according to Pakistani media reports. It appears, the same package was repurposed, repackaged and delivered to Ankara.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The consulate general has reportedly raised the matter in front of Pakistan's External Affairs Ministry after not being overly impressed.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The goods that Turkey sent as aid to Pakistan during the floods, Pak rescue teams took the same goods with them to Turkey to help <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> victims in the name of Pakistan aid. <a href="https://t.co/FgVyiiN82G">pic.twitter.com/FgVyiiN82G</a></p>
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1626481035797209088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The revelation has come as another egg-on-the-face moment for the Pakistani government. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was left red-faced after Ankara told him to postpone his visit to the earthquake-hit region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Sharif, alongside his foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was ready to leave for Turkey, two days after the earthquake had battered the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gasps-of-air-protein-powder-and-miraculous-rescues-from-turkey-earthquake-563264"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gasps of air, protein powder and miraculous rescues from Turkey earthquake</strong></a></p>

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<p>Moreover, some reports have claimed that Pakistan allegedly denied India the airspace to carry relief material&nbsp;to Turkey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Countries from around the world have come together to help the people in quake-hit areas of Turkey and Syria. However,&nbsp;Pakistan's antics may not have gone down well with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-quake-anonymous-pakistani-donor-in-us-donates-30-million-to-victims-561506" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Turkey-Syria quake: Anonymous Pakistani donor in US donates $30 million to victims</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>What has happened in Turkey?</strong></p>

<p>Turkey and Syria were ravaged by a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake nearly a fortnight ago. The deadly earthquake was followed by nearly same-magnitude aftershocks that exacerbated the damage before the people had managed to seek protection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As of the last reports, over 44,000 have died across the two countries. The rescue and rehabilitation process is currently underway and could take several weeks to conclude.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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If reports are to be believed, the Pakistani government has repackaged the aid it had received from Turkey during the 2022 floods and delivered it back as earthquake relief material to the disaster-struck country.

If reports are to be believed, the Pakistani government has repackaged the aid it had received from Turkey during the 2022 floods and delivered it back as earthquake relief material to the disaster-struck country. The Turkish authorities, upon opening the relief material found it had the message they had written for the Pakistani flood victims last year. The Turkish relief material was delivered to Sindh, a southwestern region of Pakistan which was one of the worst-hit areas due to the flood, according to Pakistani media reports. It appears, the same package was repurposed, repackaged and delivered to Ankara. The consulate general has reportedly raised the matter in front of Pakistan's External Affairs Ministry after not being overly impressed. The goods that Turkey sent as aid to Pakistan during the floods, Pak rescue teams took the same goods with them to Turkey to help #earthquake victims in the name of Pakistan aid. pic.twitter.com/FgVyiiN82G — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) February 17, 2023 × The revelation has come as another egg-on-the-face moment for the Pakistani government. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was left red-faced after Ankara told him to postpone his visit to the earthquake-hit region. Notably, Sharif, alongside his foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was ready to leave for Turkey, two days after the earthquake had battered the region. WATCH | Gasps of air, protein powder and miraculous rescues from Turkey earthquake × Moreover, some reports have claimed that Pakistan allegedly denied India the airspace to carry relief material to Turkey. Countries from around the world have come together to help the people in quake-hit areas of Turkey and Syria. However, Pakistan's antics may not have gone down well with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Read more: Turkey-Syria quake: Anonymous Pakistani donor in US donates $30 million to victims What has happened in Turkey? Turkey and Syria were ravaged by a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake nearly a fortnight ago. The deadly earthquake was followed by nearly same-magnitude aftershocks that exacerbated the damage before the people had managed to seek protection. As of the last reports, over 44,000 have died across the two countries. The rescue and rehabilitation process is currently underway and could take several weeks to conclude. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Return gift? Did Pakistan just send back to Turkey the aid it received for floods?

Ever since the Feb. 6 earthquake decimated swaths of Turkey and Syria, survivors have gathered outside destroyed houses and apartments, refusing to leave.

Turkey- Syria earthquake: Survivors express their sadness

<p>Wreckage of an apartment block in southern Turkey touted to be 'earthquake proof' has become focal point of people's anger. When it was opened decades ago, the Ronesans Rezidans, was advertised as "a piece of paradise" and claimed to be earthquake-proof. But it toppled last week in the earthquake. Hundreds are feared dead at the location.</p>

<p>Survivors stand by the pile of debris that was the 249-apartment block waiting for news of loved ones as hopes of their survival fade.</p>

<p>"My brother lived here for ten years... It was said to be earthquake safe, but you can see the result," said 47-year-old jeweller Hamza Alpaslan. He was quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>"It was introduced as the most beautiful residence in the world. It's in horrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It's a real hell," he added.</p>

<p>The earthquake in Turkey has killed 43,000 people till now. It has left millions homeless. Turkish citizens are expressing anger at what they see as corrupt building practices and flawed urban development.</p>

<p>Turkey's Urbanisation Ministry estimates 84,700 buildings have collapsed or are severely damaged.</p>

<p>While the Ronesans Rezidans, which translates as "Renaissance Residence", crumbled, several older buildings near the block still stood.</p>

<p>"We rented this place as an elite place, a safe place," said Sevil Karaabduloglu, whose two daughters are under the rubble.</p>

<p>Missing Ghanaian international footballer Christian Atsu who played for local team Hatayspor is also believed to have lived in the complex.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Wreckage of an apartment block in southern Turkey touted to be 'earthquake proof' has become focal point of people's anger. When it was opened decades ago, the Ronesans Rezidans, was advertised as "a piece of paradise" and claimed to be earthquake-proof.

Wreckage of an apartment block in southern Turkey touted to be 'earthquake proof' has become focal point of people's anger. When it was opened decades ago, the Ronesans Rezidans, was advertised as "a piece of paradise" and claimed to be earthquake-proof. But it toppled last week in the earthquake. Hundreds are feared dead at the location. Survivors stand by the pile of debris that was the 249-apartment block waiting for news of loved ones as hopes of their survival fade. "My brother lived here for ten years... It was said to be earthquake safe, but you can see the result," said 47-year-old jeweller Hamza Alpaslan. He was quoted by Reuters. "It was introduced as the most beautiful residence in the world. It's in horrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It's a real hell," he added. The earthquake in Turkey has killed 43,000 people till now. It has left millions homeless. Turkish citizens are expressing anger at what they see as corrupt building practices and flawed urban development. Turkey's Urbanisation Ministry estimates 84,700 buildings have collapsed or are severely damaged. While the Ronesans Rezidans, which translates as "Renaissance Residence", crumbled, several older buildings near the block still stood. "We rented this place as an elite place, a safe place," said Sevil Karaabduloglu, whose two daughters are under the rubble. Missing Ghanaian international footballer Christian Atsu who played for local team Hatayspor is also believed to have lived in the complex. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Turkey: Residents fume beside collapsed 'earthquake proof' apartment complex

Two women were pulled from the rubble in Turkey‘s southern city of Kahramanmaras and a mother and two children were rescued from the city of Antakya, as rescue efforts shifted to getting relief to survivors nine days after a deadly earthquake.

Turkey, Syria death toll tops 41,000; rescuers continue the search for survivors

The 13-year-old boy was saved after 228 hours of Turkey's Quake. The boy was pulled from the rubble in Antakya on Feb 15.

Teenager rescued after 228 hours of Turkey's Quake

A dog was rescued from rubble after 8 days. Video shows a dog being carried to safety after being rescued.

Dog rescued eight days after Turkey's Quake

An Indian Army doctor has developed an external fixator for hand fractures which is being used in Turkey and Syria for helping earthquake victims.

Indian Army's healing touch in Turkey

The United Nations says Syria’s president has agreed to open two new crossing points from Turkey to the country’s rebel-held northwest to deliver desperately needed aid and equipment for millions of earthquake victims

Syria opens two crossing points from Turkey

In the aftermath of the earthquake, minimal aid is reaching north-west Syria, the most affected region in the country. On 6 February 2023, an earthquake struck southern and central Turkey, and northern and western Syria. Watch this exclusive report from ground zero.

Aftermath of earthquake in Syria

Let us take a look at stories generating interest across WION's social media channels - A boy aged nine donated his entire savings collected in a piggy bank to support the relief efforts being carried out for the survivors of the latest earthquakes which hit turkey and claimed 35 000 lives so far.

Trending on WION | Turkey Earthquake: 9-year-old boy donates piggy-bank savings to relief funds

The death toll from the deadly Syria-Turkey earthquake has crossed 33,000 mark. The earthquakes have left residents with no water, electricity or shelter. In Syria's quake hit Aleppo, victims narrate their ordeal as to how they survived the quake.

WION in ground zero Syria: Underground infrastructure protects residents from quake

The earthquake is the deadliest in Turkey since 1939. Drone footage of Turkish city of Kahramanmaras revealed the extent of devastation.

Drone Footage of Turkey before and after quake

Rescuers continue to pull out more survivors from the rubble in Turkey and Syria as the death toll earthquakes topped 37,000. The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the decision by the Syrian president to open two further crossing points on the Turkish border to allow more aid into the stricken northwest of the country.

The fallout of Syria-Turkey earthquake

Rescuers continue to pull out more survivors from the rubble in Turkey and Syria as the death toll from last week’s earthquakes topped 36,000.The quakes have killed at least 31,643 people in Turkey , and 3500 people in Syria.

Syria: UN holds emergency meeting

The devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria has left more than 35,000 people dead. Now a week after the disaster struck, rescue teams began to shift their focus from searching for survivors to delivering humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of those affected.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Syria vows to send aid in rebel-held areas

With the death toll and deadly earthquake crossing 37,000, Turkish authorities have begun arresting or detaining a number of property developers.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Clampdown on building contractors in Turkey

Syrian President agrees to open two more gates along Turkey

Syria: One week since earthquake, over 35,000 dead

Has the world abandoned Syria? While help is pouring in for quake victims in Turkey, aid is barely reaching those battling the aftermath of the very same quake in Syria. What explains this hypocrisy? Priyanka Sharma tells you.

Gravitas | Western hypocrisy: Countries help Turkey, not Syria

Rescuers pulled a 13-year-old out from rubble of a collapsed building. Teenager was rescued more than a week after deadly Turkey quake. The combined death toll rose above 37,000 in Turkey & Syria.

Teenager rescued after 182 hours of Turkey's Quake

<p>UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said that the death toll of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria may increase to&nbsp;50,000.&nbsp;On Saturday, Griffiths visited the southern city of Kahramanmaras in Turkey, which was the epicentre of the first earthquake of 7.8-magnitude that upturned the lives of millions in Monday's pre-dawn hours.&nbsp;Speaking to Sky News, Griffiths said, “I think it is difficult to estimate precisely as we need to get under the rubble but I'm sure it will double or more. We haven't really begun to count the number of dead.”</p>

<p>According to officials, the death toll currently stands at 34,000. Since six days have passed, there is less probability of people under the debris being found alive.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/48-arrested-in-turkey-for-looting-defrauding-quake-hit-victims-561022">48 arrested in Turkey for looting, defrauding quake-hit victims</a></p>

<h2><strong>Police detain around 130 contractors over collapsed buildings</strong></h2>

<p>According to the state media, police in quake-hit Turkey have detained around 130&nbsp;contractors after multiple buildings collapsed in the country's south-eastern provinces of Sanliurfa and Gaziantep.</p>

<p>As per the DHA news agency, the people taken into custody includes contractors. Around 6,000 buildings collapsed in the devastating earthquakes that hit the region on Monday, sparking anger in the public over the poor quality of construction.</p>

<p>Police officials are expected to detain more people after Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay on Saturday said that 113 arrest warrants have been issued by the prosecutors over the collapse&nbsp;of buildings.</p>

<p>One of the persons detained was a contractor for a collapsed building in Gaziantep, said the agency, adding that the police caught him in Istanbul.</p>

<p>A wave of investigations has been launched by the prosecutors in provinces which have been hit, including Kahramanmaras. The justice ministry has asked the prosecutors to set up special "earthquake crimes investigation offices" in the 10 provinces.</p>

<p>On Friday, another contractor was apprehended by the Turkish police after the high-rise luxury flats, he was associated with, had collapsed in Hatay province.</p>

<p>The police detained him at Istanbul airport when&nbsp;he was trying to flee the country, reports suggested.</p>

<h2><strong>Miracle rescues as toll climbs</strong></h2>

<p>On Saturday, an elderly woman and a two-month-old baby were rescued from the rubble. Thousands of rescue workers are still searching for survivors in flattened neighbourhoods even as the misery of the survivors escalates amid&nbsp;freezing&nbsp;weather. However, amid despair, loss and destruction, stories of miraculous survival continue to emerge.</p>

<p>The rescue workers found a two-month-old baby alive in the city of Antakya, 128 hours after the quake, reported state news agency Anadolu.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, families held each other tightly in grief, as a cotton field was transformed into a cemetery as countless bodies arrived for burial.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | WION speaks to volunteers in Damascus after deadly earthquake in Turkey, Syria</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Violence disrupts rescue operations</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, outbreaks of violence in southern Turkey hampered the ongoing rescue operations to find survivors. The search operations were paused by the Austrian army and German rescuers on Saturday, because of fighting between unidentified groups.</p>

<p>Austrian army spokesperson Lt Col Pierre Kugelweis said that altercations between factions in the Hatay province forced the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit's personnel to take shelter in a base camp along with other international organisations.</p>

<p>In a statement, Kugelweis said, “There is increasing aggression between factions in Turkey. The chances of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the safety risk.”</p>

<p>Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed that the rescue operation was resumed by Austria after protection was provided by the Turkish army.</p>

<p>Operations were also suspended by Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (TSW) and the German branch of the search and rescue group Isar, citing similar security concerns.</p>

<p>Isar spokesperson Stefan Heine said, “There are more and more reports of clashes between different factions, shots have also been fired.”</p>

<p>German rescue teams confirmed that the rescue work will be resumed as soon as the situation is declared safe by the Turkish authorities.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said that the death toll of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria may increase to 50,000. On Saturday, Griffiths visited the southern city of Kahramanmaras in Turkey, which was the epicentre of the first earthquake of 7.

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said that the death toll of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria may increase to 50,000. On Saturday, Griffiths visited the southern city of Kahramanmaras in Turkey, which was the epicentre of the first earthquake of 7.8-magnitude that upturned the lives of millions in Monday's pre-dawn hours. Speaking to Sky News, Griffiths said, “I think it is difficult to estimate precisely as we need to get under the rubble but I'm sure it will double or more. We haven't really begun to count the number of dead.” According to officials, the death toll currently stands at 34,000. Since six days have passed, there is less probability of people under the debris being found alive. ALSO READ | 48 arrested in Turkey for looting, defrauding quake-hit victims Police detain around 130 contractors over collapsed buildings According to the state media, police in quake-hit Turkey have detained around 130 contractors after multiple buildings collapsed in the country's south-eastern provinces of Sanliurfa and Gaziantep. As per the DHA news agency, the people taken into custody includes contractors. Around 6,000 buildings collapsed in the devastating earthquakes that hit the region on Monday, sparking anger in the public over the poor quality of construction. Police officials are expected to detain more people after Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay on Saturday said that 113 arrest warrants have been issued by the prosecutors over the collapse of buildings. One of the persons detained was a contractor for a collapsed building in Gaziantep, said the agency, adding that the police caught him in Istanbul. A wave of investigations has been launched by the prosecutors in provinces which have been hit, including Kahramanmaras. The justice ministry has asked the prosecutors to set up special "earthquake crimes investigation offices" in the 10 provinces. On Friday, another contractor was apprehended by the Turkish police after the high-rise luxury flats, he was associated with, had collapsed in Hatay province. The police detained him at Istanbul airport when he was trying to flee the country, reports suggested. Miracle rescues as toll climbs On Saturday, an elderly woman and a two-month-old baby were rescued from the rubble. Thousands of rescue workers are still searching for survivors in flattened neighbourhoods even as the misery of the survivors escalates amid freezing weather. However, amid despair, loss and destruction, stories of miraculous survival continue to emerge. The rescue workers found a two-month-old baby alive in the city of Antakya, 128 hours after the quake, reported state news agency Anadolu. Meanwhile, families held each other tightly in grief, as a cotton field was transformed into a cemetery as countless bodies arrived for burial. WATCH | WION speaks to volunteers in Damascus after deadly earthquake in Turkey, Syria Violence disrupts rescue operations Meanwhile, outbreaks of violence in southern Turkey hampered the ongoing rescue operations to find survivors. The search operations were paused by the Austrian army and German rescuers on Saturday, because of fighting between unidentified groups. Austrian army spokesperson Lt Col Pierre Kugelweis said that altercations between factions in the Hatay province forced the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit's personnel to take shelter in a base camp along with other international organisations. In a statement, Kugelweis said, “There is increasing aggression between factions in Turkey. The chances of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the safety risk.” Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed that the rescue operation was resumed by Austria after protection was provided by the Turkish army. Operations were also suspended by Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (TSW) and the German branch of the search and rescue group Isar, citing similar security concerns. Isar spokesperson Stefan Heine said, “There are more and more reports of clashes between different factions, shots have also been fired.” German rescue teams confirmed that the rescue work will be resumed as soon as the situation is declared safe by the Turkish authorities. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey earthquake: 130 contractors detained over collapsed buildings; UN says toll may reach 50,000

Indian envoy to Turkey Dr Virander Paul speaks to WION on India's aid to quake-hit country. Dr Paul says India's focus is on assisting Turkey authorities.

Indian envoy to Turkey speaks to WION

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