Turkey-Syria Earthquake Update | Deaths toll crosses over 8,300
Ankara/Damascus: At least 8,326 people have now been confirmed dead and nearly 40,000 injured following the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake that stuck Turkey and Syria.
The death toll could significantly rise as many people still remain trapped under the rubble.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the death toll in the country currently stood at 5,894, while the number of injured persons spiked to 34,810, reports Anadolu News Agency.
In Syria, the death toll has increased to 2,470, Xinhua news agency quoted officials as saying.
Of the overall fatalities, 1,250 were reported in government-controlled areas and 1,220 in rebel-held regions of the war-torn nation.
The World Health Organization has warned that the death toll in the two countries could end up surpassing 20,000.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency on Tuesday in the 10 provinces.
Turkey is also is observing a seven-day period of national mourning.