Rescue crews search through rubble after hearing what sounded like the cries of a woman and a child    ALSO: Turkey raises taxes for quake relief as Istanbul market skids

August 26, 1999
Web posted at: 6:54 p.m. EDT (2254 GMT)

GOLCUK, Turkey (CNN) -- Rescue crews dug frantically through a mountain of twisted steel and concrete that used to be a five-story apartment block late Thursday, believing someone may still be alive under the rubble 10 days after Turkey's devastating earthquake.

They first started digging in the ruins of the building in the village of Ihsaniye, near Golcuk, after hearing what sounded like the cries of a woman and a child.

"Please save us," were the last words heard from the woman.

The search-and-rescue team brought in drills and other equipment to dig through the debris but gave up after two hours and no further signs of life.

However, hope was renewed and rescue efforts intensified when searchers using sophisticated detection equipment picked up the sound of a beating heart.

The last survivor to be pulled from the rubble was a young child on Monday. The August 17 quake killed more than 13,000 people and injured more than 26,000. Thousands are still missing.

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