Heartwarming pictures show 16 babies pulled from the Turkish earthquake rubble ... trends now
Babies who were found alone in the aftermath of the earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria and claimed the lives of thousands have safely been transported to Ankara.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's plane was used to carry 16 babies from Kahramanmaras to the Turkish capital following the devastating 7.8 and 7.5-magnitude tremors on Monday.
The plane has been put on standby to be used for earthquake-related activities including carrying medical teams and aid to regions of the country.
It is also being used to transport critically injured people to Ankara for treatment.
All 16 babies on board the flight were found alone in the earthquake zones. They were collected by the foster mothers of the Ministry of Family and Social Services from the plane which landed at Esenboğa Airport.
From there, they were taken to Etlik City Hospital.
The plane has been put on standby to be used for earthquake-related activities including carrying medical teams and aid to regions of the country
The babies were collected by the foster mothers of the Ministry of Family and Social Services from the plane which landed at Esenboğa Airport
All 16 babies on board the flight were found alone in the earthquake zones within Turkey
The babies were taken on board the presidential plane, which is being used in the effort to send aid to affected areas
The babies, who are believed to be unharmed, will now be taken into care in the children's organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services
The babies landed at Esenboğa Airport, and were taken straight to Etlik City Hospital from there
Heartwarming images show the infants in the arms of rescuers on board the plane, wrapped in blankets amid a cold snap in the country.
The pictures show people huddled together on the flight cradling the infants, many of whom are asleep, as they are transported to safety.
The babies, who are believed to be unharmed, will now be taken into care in the children's organisation affiliated to the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
Two of the babies were removed from debris caused by the earthquake, meaning that they have yet to be identified.
The other 14 were being treated at hospitals in Kahramanmaras at the time of the quake but authorities are as of yet unable to reach their families.
The Turkish President's wife Emine Erdogan visited the babies at Etlik City Hospital on Wednesday.
Official figures released yesterday confirmed the deaths of at least 3,500 people during the two quakes.
The earthquakes were felt in multiple countries across the Middle East, with Turkey and its war-torn southern neighbour Syria the worst affected.
Thousands of people in both countries are known to have been killed. In Turkey entire apartment
