The death toll from the devastating earthquakes on Monday now exceed 20,000, of which 17,134 are accounted for in Turkey and 3,317 in Syria. In both countries there are more than 75,000 wounded.
In Turkey, more than 100,000 members of rescue teams and the Army are mobilized to rescue the survivors, but the winter weather, the degree of destruction and the extent of the affected area complicate the work.
Once the 72-hour limit is passed, the hopes of finding survivors are reduced.
However, rescuers have continued to free people from the rubble in recent hours, including four minors who had been buried for 84 hours.
In Syria, the death toll from earthquakes throughout the country now stands at 3,317 and the number of injured stands at at least 5,245, including areas in the hands of the opposition and those controlled by Damascus.
The first UN humanitarian aid convoy reached opposition areas in northwestern Syria today via the Bab al Hawa border crossing linking Syria’s Idlib province with Turkey, almost four days after the initial quake.
