17-year-old drank urine, ate family's flowers to survive 94 hours trapped in rubble of Turkey quake

ByMarcus Moore ABCNews logo
Friday, February 10, 2023
Death toll rises past 21K, rescues dwindle in earthquake aftermath
The death toll for the Turkey-Syria earthquake has climbed past 21K as rescues dwindle days after the massive quake hit the area.

A 17-year-old boy is sharing his story of survival after spending 94 hours trapped in rubble in the wake of the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey early Monday.

The video in the media player is from a previous report.

MORE: How to assist earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria

Earthquake survivors in the Turkish city of Antakya said on Wednesday they need more support to protect their children in the aftermath of the disaster.

Speaking via FaceTime from his hospital bed in Gaziantep, Turkey, Adnan Muhammet Korkut told ABC News he was asleep in his family's home when the quake hit, and he then "got into the fetal position."

While he was trapped, the teenager said he drank his own urine and ate his family's flowers to survive.

RELATED: Newborn, toddler pulled from Syrian earthquake rubble

A toddler was pulled alive from the earthquake wreckage of a collapsed building in Jinderis, Syria.

He said he set the alarm on his phone for every 25 minutes so he wouldn't go to sleep. After two days, the battery went dead.

As the search for survivors carried on, Korkut said he was "hearing voices, but I was worried they couldn't hear me."

Korkut said he was afraid he might get crushed during the rescue efforts.

At least 3 Americans killed during earthquake in Turkey and Syria, US State Department confirms

ABC News' Marcus Moore reports on the urgent search for survivors after the 7.8 magnitude quake rocked southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria early Monday.

But after four days, he was finally freed.

"Thank you to the people who came and saved me," he said.

Adnan Muhammet Korkut, 17, in his hospital bed in Gaziantep, Turkey, after spending 94 hours trapped in the rubble of the earthquake.
Courtesy of Adnan Muhammet Korkut

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake has claimed more than 22,000 lives in Turkey and Syria.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook central Turkey early Monday and was followed by a strong aftershock.