Time is running out for people who may remain trapped under rubble in Turkey and Syria. Rescue crews are ‘scrambling’ to find survivors in the ruins of thousands of collapsed buildings left behind by a 7.8 Richter earthquake and violent tremors.

According to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, the death toll in the two countries has exceeded 7,260, while about 8,000 people have been rescued in Turkey so far. Some 380,000 victims are in shelters and hotels, while others are finding temporary accommodation in malls, stadiums, places of worship and community centers.

Chaos reigns in the affected areas, with many locals posting calls for help on social media for their loved ones who they believe are still alive and trapped.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 13 million people were affected by the hurricane (in a country of 85 million people). The World Health Organization estimates that a total of 23 million people could have been affected by the earthquake in the two countries.

Rescue operations

A France 24 correspondent reports that rescue teams are carefully cutting up fallen concrete slabs and removing debris. According to him, about every hour the teams stop work and ask everyone to keep quiet. They then turn to the wreckage and ask to make noise if anyone in the trap can hear them. After a few minutes, they repeat the process.

Turkish authorities have announced that only vehicles with aid packages will be allowed to enter the provinces of Hatay, Antiyaman and Kaharmanmaras. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency in ten provinces of Turkey.

Tremors, low temperatures and damaged roads are hampering efforts to deal with the massive and multifaceted crisis caused by the disaster.