Turkey/Syria earthquake: Couple saved after 12 days; child dies

A couple and their son were pulled alive from under the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey on Saturday, more than 12 days after the area was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Their 12-year-old son later died, authorities said.

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A yeam from Kyrgyzstan rescued Samir Muhammed Accar, 49, his wife, Ragda, 40, and their son while conducting a search through the rubble of an apartment building in Antakya, The Associated Press reported, citing the state-run Anadolu news agency.

The family members were removed from the debris at about 11:30 a.m. local time, which was 296 hours after the earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria.

The team also found the bodies of two children, who were later identified as the children of the Accars, according to the AP.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Accar was conscious and being treated at an area hospital, the news organization reported.

According to Anadolu, Accar said he described surviving under the rubble by drinking his own urine.

More than 43,000 people have been killed in the earthquake, and officials believe the death toll is expected to rise, Reuters reported. Officials said approximately 345,000 apartments in Turkey have been confirmed as destroyed.