Death toll in earthquakes in Turkiye, Syria reaches nearly 8,000 as rescuers rush against time to find survivors

In Turkiye and Syria, the death toll due to massive earthquakes has soared to nearly 8,000 as rescue oprations continue to find survivors. Türkiye's Vice President Fuat Oktay has said that more than 34,800 people were injured in the earthquakes. Search teams and international aid are pouring into Turkiye and Syria as rescuers work in freezing temperatures to pull out survivors and victims.

The 7.8 magnitude quake that hit the region on Monday toppled thousands of



buildings. Unstable piles of metal and concrete made the search efforts perilous. So far, over 8,000 people have been pulled from the debris in Turkey alone, and around four lakhs have taken refuge in government shelters or hotels. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 13 million of the country’s 85 million people were affected due to the earthquake. Erdogan has already declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces.