Online users have been moved by a touching image of a seven-year-old girl covering her younger brother’s head when they were trapped under debris in Turkey and Syria following the earthquake.
The image was posted on Twitter by UN representative Mohamad Safa, who stated that the pair spent 17 hours under the rubble before emerging safely.
The 7-year-old girl who protected her younger brother by keeping her hand on his head when they were buried under the rubble for 17 hours has survived. I observe no sharing. Everyone would share if she were deceased! Spread goodwill…” the man’s tweet.
The 7 year old girl who kept her hand on her little brother's head to protect him while they were under the rubble for 17 hours has made it safely. I see no one sharing. If she were dead, everyone would share! Share positivity… pic.twitter.com/J2sU5A5uvO
— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) February 7, 2023
‘The 7 year old girl who kept her hand on her little brother’s head to protect him while they were under the rubble for 17 hours has made it safely. I see no one sharing. If she were dead, everyone would share! Share positivity…’ read his tweet.
The photograph left netizens emotional and many praised the girl for her compassionate gesture in the distressful situation. A user commented, ‘Miracles happen. What a great big sister. Lovingly protective under such stressful circumstances. Hope for all those still trapped. Respect for all the rescuers working tirelessly.’ Another user wrote, ‘Oh bless her – children’s love and resilience makes me weep.’ A third user commented, ‘OW! She’s a little hero!’
About 5,103 people have been reported dead on Tuesday and thousands more were injured in the 7.8 quake that wreaked havoc in Turkey and Syria. It was followed by another two quakes of 7.6 and 6.0 magnitude in Turkey’s southern regions on Monday, followed by aftershocks measuring 5.6 on Tuesday. While countries race to send relief material and rescue teams, seven days of national mourning have been declared in Turkey.