The death toll from a massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria climbed above 15,000 on Wednesday, as rescuers raced to save survivors trapped under debris in freezing weather.
Officials and medics said 12,391 people had died in Turkey and 2,992 in Syria from Monday’s 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 15,383.
Rescue teams in Turkey and Syria have been searching for signs of life from an untold number of people trapped in the rubble.
Teams from more than two dozen countries, including Israel, have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel in the effort.
But the scale of destruction from the quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area that many people were still awaiting help.
