When the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, it left unimaginable devastation in its wake. But among the stories of heartbreak, one mother’s incredible survival with her newborn baby is offering a glimmer of hope.
Necla Camuz, 33, and her 10-day-old son, Yagiz Ulas, were buried under the rubble of their five-story building in Samandah, a town in Turkey’s Hatay province. The young mother was trapped beneath the debris, cradling her baby on her chest for nearly four days—90 harrowing hours—before help finally arrived.
"I think if my baby hadn't been strong enough to handle this, I wouldn't have been either."
— Necla Camuz, via BBC
Trapped and starving, she still kept her baby fed
The earthquake measured 7.8 and left nearly 30,000 people dead. Tasnim News Agency via Wikimedia Commons
Camuz, her husband Irfan, and their 3-year-old son Yigit had been inside their home when the earthquake hit. The quake's force caused their building to collapse, trapping Necla and Yagiz beneath layers of debris. A wardrobe, of all things, shielded them from being crushed completely, likely saving both of their lives.
For days, Camuz tried to get rescuers’ attention, banging on the wardrobe and shouting. But no one came. She kept her newborn fed by breastfeeding, but she herself had no access to food or water. In desperation, she even tried drinking her own breast milk to stay hydrated.
"I'm very happy he's a newborn baby and won't remember anything."
— Necla Camuz
Rescuers arrived just in time
On the third day, just when things seemed most hopeless, Camuz heard dogs barking and voices—rescuers were finally closing in. Shortly after, the team pulled her and Yagiz from the rubble. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined neither had sustained serious injuries. Both were discharged just 24 hours later.
"A wardrobe saved us from being crushed."
— Necla Camuz
The family is now safe—but without a home
Her husband and older son also survived but were more seriously hurt, suffering injuries to their legs and feet. Now, the family of 13 is without a home, but Camuz remains profoundly grateful to be alive—and for the strength her newborn son gave her during the darkest days of her life.
The wreckage of a collapsed building, Diyarbakır, Turkey.Voice of America
“I think if my baby hadn't been strong enough to handle this, I wouldn't have been either,” she told BBC. That strength, she says, was mutual. Holding him gave her something to fight for.
A story of survival in the face of tragedy
More than 35,000 people have died as a result of the earthquake, according to NBC News. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called it “the disaster of the century.” The widespread destruction has left thousands of families grieving and displaced.
Camuz’s story is not just one of endurance, but of resilience. It’s a powerful reminder of the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child—and the will to survive when everything else is gone.
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