Thousands of buildings have collapsed in Türkiye and Syria in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the region in more than 100 years.

The death toll in Türkiye rose to 21,043, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, adding that more than 80,000 people were injured.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in Syria, the toll is at least 5,189, including 2,049 deaths in opposition-held areas and 1,347 deaths in regime-controlled areas.

“The number of Syrians who have been killed due to the devastating earthquake is expected to exceed 7,000, especially since there are hundreds of missing people under rubble,” the group added.

Search and rescue teams are working against time to recover survivors from the rubble despite harsh winter conditions.

Due to the freezing temperatures in the areas, survivors, especially the ones that are trapped under the wreckage, have a great risk of hypothermia. (ILKHA)