Husky dog found alive under rubble 22 days after Turkey earthquake

 Last month a devastating, 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, leaving at least 50,000 people dead. In the weeks since, search and rescue crews have been hard at work searching for survivors.

Miraculously, one survivor was found 22 days after the earthquake: a Husky dog.

The dog, named “Aleks,” was found under the rubble of a two-story building in Hatay, Turkey, somehow alive 22 days after the February 6 earthquakes, according to the Turkish news outlet Anadolu.

HATAY, TURKIYE – MARCH 01: A dog, named “Aleks”, is received a treatment after 22 days of being rescued from under the rubble following 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye including their trauma in Hatay, Turkiye on February 28, 2023. On Feb.6 a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. On the same day at 1.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras’ Elbistan district struck the region. (Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The dog’s owner had heard the dog’s barking and called for help from a rescue team. “We realized the dog was alive after checking the debris,” HAYTAP volunteer Osman Polat told Anadolou.” The area was very small. He was trapped under the rubble. There was a small hole where only the dog’s nose could fit.”

After two hours, the rescuers were able to free the dog and bring him to the hospital. “We cut the iron by opening it with my hands. Somehow, I got to the dog out,” Osman Polat said.

Miraculously, the dog was still in relatively good health. It’s a mystery how Aleks survived under the rubble for that long. “Surviving 22 days in that hole without eating or drinking anything is really a miracle.”

While the death toll in Turkey and Syria is still devastating, stories like this can provide a glimmer of hope.

HATAY, TURKIYE – MARCH 01: A personnel caresses a dog, named “Aleks”, who is received a treatment after 22 days of being rescued from under the rubble following 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye including their trauma in Hatay, Turkiye on February 28, 2023. On Feb.6 a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. On the same day at 1.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras’ Elbistan district struck the region. (Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In another heartwarming story, a firefighter rescued a cat from the rubble, and now the cat refuses to leave his side. The firefighter says he will keep the cat as a pet if he can’t locate the owner.

What a miracle — we’re so glad Aleks has been found alive! After 22 days, we’re sure the dog’s family thought he was dead, but somehow he survived.

Please share this incredible news!