The death toll from the Turkiye-Syria earthquakes has risen to over 15,000. At least 12,391 people have died in Turkiye while 2,992 have been killed in Syria. Turkish officials said 13.5 million people have been affected by the earthquake in the area spanning around 450 kilometers. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who contests an election in May, said on a visit to the disaster zone that operations were now working normally and promised no one would be left homeless. Across a swathe of southern Turkey, people sought temporary shelter and food in freezing winter weather, and waited in anguish by piles of rubble where family and friends might still lie buried.

The confirmed death toll in Turkey rose to 15,000 by Thursday morning, the Disaster Management Authority said, up more than 30% on Wednesday toll. Rescuers were still finding some people alive. But many Turks have complained of a lack of equipment, expertise and support to rescue those trapped - sometimes even as they could hear cries for help. Where is the state? Where have they been for two days? We are begging them. Let us do it, we can get them out,Sabiha Alinak said on Wednesday near a snow- covered collapsed building in the city of Malatya where her young relatives were trapped.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP