Turkey-Syria earthquake: ‘Miracle baby’ born in rubble is adopted by her aunt and uncle – and given a new name
A baby born in the rubble of Syria’s earthquake earlier this month has been adopted by her aunt and uncle.
The little girl’s mother, father and four siblings were all killed in the earthquake on 6 February, and their apartment block in the northern town of Jinderis, in Aleppo province, was destroyed.
She was found by rescuers more than 10 hours after the quake hit, her umbilical cord still connected to her dead mother.
Mr al Sawadi says he and his wife will treasure their niece. Pic: AP
Her uncle, Khalil al Sawadi, helped to rescue her and took her to hospital, where officials named her Aya – meaning “a sign from God” in Arabic.
On Saturday, she was officially adopted by Mr al Sawadi, who buys and sells cars for a living, and his wife Hala.
The couple, who already have four daughters and two sons, have renamed the baby Afraa after her late mother.
Mr al Sawadi told the AP news agency: “She is one of my children now.
“I will not differentiate between her and my children.
“She will be dearer than my children because she will keep the memory alive of her father, mother and siblings.”
Afraa was described as being in very good health when she left the hospital
The home where Mr al Sawadi and his wife live with their children was also destroyed in the earthquake.
But even though their circumstances are difficult, the couple believed that the best place for baby Afraa was with them.
“I will raise her in a way that she will not feel in need for anything,” Mr al Sawadi added.
Afraa was described as “the miracle baby” after photos of her being pulled from the rubble were seen around the world.
People contacted the hospital offering to help her and volunteering to adopt her.
Some even came to the facility claiming they were related to her, despite having different family names.
With concern growing that she could be kidnapped, police were called to guard her and Mr al Sawadi visited her frequently in hospital.
It took nearly two weeks to complete the adoption paperwork, and the hospital conducted a DNA test to make sure she and her aunt were related.
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Afraa was rescued from the rubble in the Syrian town of Jinderis. Pic: AP
Dr Hani Maarouf said Afraa was in very good health on her release, but added “it was sad and some nurses wept” when she was taken away.
More than 5,800 people have died in Syria as a result of the earthquake, with another 39,000 dead in Turkey – the epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude event.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
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Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
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The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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