Rescue teams are still working to find survivors after the earthquake that devastated entire areas of Turkey and Syria on February 7. Some people are still being pulled alive from the rubble, more than a week after the earthquake, which has so far killed more than 38,000 people.
Many have raised the question: How long can people survive under the ruins?
Experts say people can survive up to a week or more, although this depends on their injuries, how they are trapped and the weather. Age, physical and mental condition are also influencing factors.
"The people who have survived are usually younger people and have been lucky enough to find either a pocket in the rubble or some way to have the necessary elements like air and water," Dr. Christopher Colwell, a physician at the University of California in San Francisco.
People with traumatic injuries, including crush injuries and limb amputations, face difficulty surviving, said Dr. George Chiampas.
Mental state can also affect survival. Chiampas notes that trapped people who have no contact with other survivors or rescue teams may give up hope of living. "The hope that someone will get to you, I think, might make them survive an extra day, two or three," he said.
Most rescues happen in the first 24 hours after a disaster. After that, the chances of survival decrease. Still, Chiampas says he will "never discourage anyone from having hope."
We recall that recently, seven more people were rescued in Turkey eight days after the earthquake. A baby was born under the rubble and is now in good condition.
