By — Jane Ferguson Jane Ferguson By — Jorgen Samso Jorgen Samso By — Huseyin Aldemir Huseyin Aldemir By — Sarah Clune Hartman Sarah Clune Hartman Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/deadly-earthquake-in-turkey-and-syria-leaves-millions-without-homes Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio The death toll in Turkey and Syria from Monday’s powerful earthquake climbed over 28,000 Saturday night. Many of the dead were found under the rubble of collapsed buildings, and officials in Turkey are detaining building contractors they blame for shoddy construction. Special correspondent Jane Ferguson reports from near the Turkish-Syrian border, where the most intense shaking was felt. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. John Yang: Good evening. I'm John Yang. The death toll in Turkey and Syria from Monday's powerful earthquake is still climbing tonight. Now, more than 28,000. It was the region's worst quake in more than six decades. Many of the dead were found beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. And in Turkey, officials are detaining building contractors they blame for shoddy construction. The most intense shaking was felt near the Turkish Syrian border. And that's where Special Correspondent Jane Ferguson is tonight. Jane Ferguson: 129 hours, almost unimaginable, anyone would still be found alive. But in Nurdag?, Turkey, the unthinkable happened. Five family members were pulled from the rubble this morning. The father found before two of his children insisted they be rescued first. Then, 30 miles away and 134 hours after the quake, a 16-year-old miraculously brought out of the rubble alive, 80 miles further up the road in Elbistan, another unlikely rescue. Rescuers heard a woman's voice and worked for hours to find her. With each minute that passes, seems like these are less and less likely. Today, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans for what will happen to the millions who are now without homes. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey (through translator): We will place earthquake survivors who want to go to other provinces in hotels, dormitories, and public guest houses with an organized plan. We are currently vacating our universities once again until the summer season. They will continue with remote education. Jane Ferguson: As people struggle to find the bare necessities, many have turned to looting. Erdogan says the state of emergency he declared four days ago gives authorities the power to crack down on the looters. Overnight, a convoy of aid trucks crossed the border into hard hit Syria, carrying blankets, food, water and medication. Karzan Noori, Program Manager, Barzani Charity Foundation: In the morning, we are going to start the distribution for the people of (inaudible), because what has happened over there is, unfortunately, it's a catastrophe, 80% of the whole city has been destroyed. The devastation there is too big and the world has to wake up and see what's going on in this part of Syria. Jane Ferguson: In Aleppo, authorities have started bringing down buildings that are structurally unsound, leaving its residents homeless and bewildered. Amina Khan Tumani (through translator): What can we do? What can we all do as the children and all the people who lived here? Jane Ferguson: Nearly a week later, an unknown number of people are still missing. But one loyal companion refused to give up hope. Still waiting for her owner next to the rubble of their home. Volunteers treated the dog's wounds and gave her a mattress to rest on.As thousands wait to hear the fate of their loved ones, the grim work of preparing rows of empty graves goes on. For those who are still to be found.For "PBS News Weekend," I'm Jane Ferguson in Gaziantep, Turkey. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Feb 11, 2023 By — Jane Ferguson Jane Ferguson Jane is a New York-based special correspondent for the NewsHour, reporting on and from across the Middle East, Africa and beyond. She was previously based in Beirut. Reporting highlights include the lead up to and aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, front-line dispatches from the war against ISIS in Iraq, an up-close look at Houthi-controlled Yemen, and reports on the war and famine in South Sudan. Areas of particular interest are the ongoing cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, Islamist groups around the world, and US foreign policy. @JaneFerguson5 By — Jorgen Samso Jorgen Samso By — Huseyin Aldemir Huseyin Aldemir By — Sarah Clune Hartman Sarah Clune Hartman