Earthquake death toll nears 20,000 as Turkey, Syria seek help
Hundreds of thousands more are injured or displaced as rescue workers race against time to free those who are trapped.
ANKARA — The death toll in Syria and Turkey from the earthquake is nearing 20,000, with the number of injured exceeding 100,000, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
In Turkey, at least 15,546 have been killed and more than 60,000 people have been injured, authorities said on Thursday.
The death toll in Syria stands at more than 3,000, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, while Syrian state media reported that more than 298,000 people have been displaced.
International and local rescuers across southern Turkey and northern Syria are racing against time to reach survivors trapped under the rubble. The earthquakes early Monday morning led to colossal destruction in both countries. Turkish authorities put the number of collapsed buildings at nearly 7,000, but the figure is expected to rise.
