The international community has rushed to the aid of Turkey and Syria, sending aid teams and rescuers to search for survivors in wintry conditions after Monday’s devastating earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks. According to the latest data, the number of dead in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 15 thousand.

The work of rescuers in Turkey and Syria continuesPhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Events unfolding Thursday after devastating earthquakes in Turkey, LIVETEXT:

07:05 The number of victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has increased to more than 15 thousand. According to officials, at least 12,391 people have died in Turkey, and nearly 3,000 more have died in Syria.

07:00 The Syrian Civil Defense continued overnight search operations in rebel-held parts of Syria, and rescue efforts approached the 72-hour mark, which disaster experts say is the most likely time to save lives.

06:50 While countries around the world sent rescue teams and supplies to earthquake-stricken Turkey, very little aid reached Syria. “We are appealing to the international community, the Arab countries and the UN to urgently help us,” volunteer doctor Obaidah Ranoush said at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Turkey and Syria. “More than 60 hours after the earthquake, hundreds of people are still trapped under the rubble. We cannot save them because of scarce resources. We need cars, humanitarian and medical aid,” he said.

22:00 The number of victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has increased to at least 12,049 people, according to The Guardian.

The Syrian Civil Defense said on Twitter that the death toll had risen to 1,730 dead and more than 2,850 wounded. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll in his country had risen to 9,057.

21:30 Syria asked for EU support for the first time after the earthquake

Syria has made its first appeal for aid to the European Union, two days after a devastating earthquake killed more than 11,000 people in the country and neighboring Turkey, the European Commission announced on Wednesday, AFP reported.

21:20 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Wednesday that the toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, which has killed more than 11,500 people, is “truly staggering, shocking”, according to Reuters.

21:00 Turkey is working on opening two more points on the border with Syria to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake – Minister of Foreign Affairs