3-Year-Old Turkish Toddler Rescued From Collapsed Apartment Building After 91 Hours

Rescue crews in western Turkey are rejoicing after finding a 3-year-old girl alive in the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Izmir.

The Turkish toddler, who’s name is Ayda Gezgin, was pinned between a dishwasher and debris for 91 hours after Friday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravished the area. The child could be heard crying out as the rescue team moved large pieces of debris to reach her.  As the rubble was removed, a worker was eventually able to comfort the child by holding her hand. Another team member was able to cradle her head before she was ultimately freed. Gezgin appeared to have no serious injuries. Unfortunately, the girl’s mother, Fidan Gezgin, did not survive the apartment collapse. She was found deceased in the rubble. 

“Don’t be afraid sweetie. We are here,” a rescue worker is heard telling Gezgin in video footage of the miracle rescue. 

Gezgin was the 107th person to be rescued during the recovery efforts. The death toll from the powerful earthquake now sits at 109 in western Turkey. While over 1,000 people were reported injured, 900 of them are said to have been treated and released from local hospitals.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tweeted a photo of the girl moments after she was rescued, saying “get well soon beautiful baby.”

Mucizenin adı Ayda… 91 saat sonra senin o gülen gözlerinle birlikte hepimize yeni umutlar bahşeden Allah’a şükürler olsun.

Geçmiş olsun güzel yavrum… pic.twitter.com/VqZmjHbDAO

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) November 3, 2020