ADANA, Turkey — The dozen or so rescue workers stood motionless, listening for signs of survivors.
They stood atop rubble — the remains of a 14-storey structure, one of many buildings that made up an apartment complex in Adana, a city in southern Turkey about 100 miles from the epicenter of Monday’s earthquake.
Residents gathered outside in the cold night and started a bonfire to stay warm as they wondered why their buildings survived. They also pondered the risk of going back into their apartments — if even just for a minute to grab an heirloom or two — as they waited for more aid to arrive.
The weather was delaying more rescue workers and humanitarian assistance. The highway that connects Adana with eastern Turkey traverses mountains and was closed because of snow. Cleanup, rescue and medical crews had to take the longer, coastal route.
For the time being, Adana, like so many other places in the quake-stricken parts of Turkey and Syria, was relying on local search and rescue crews and volunteers.
At the apartment block, the crew resumed its work. By early Tuesday, it had yet to find any survivors.
