Irmak, 15, was one of more than 11,000 people killed in Turkey and neighboring Syria by the earthquakes, the first of which struck in the early hours of Monday and registered at magnitude-7.8. It qualifies as “major” on the official magnitude scale. Hours later, a second quake, registering a 7.6-magnitude, struck nearby. Officials have warned the death toll will likely rise.
As others searched in the rubble around him, Hancer couldn’t touch any other part of her daughter's body, which appeared to be lying on a mattress, a pink sheet hung down next to him as he shielded his other hand from the bitter winter cold in his orange jacket.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started to visit the worst affected areas. He was filmed embracing an elderly woman while visiting Kahramanmaras. He is also expected to visit the provinces of Adana and Malatya.
Aina is a freelance reporter with NBC News.
