Turkey-Syria earthquake updates: Death toll climbs to over 41,000

The Feb. 6 quake was centered in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province.

ByMelissa Gaffney, Morgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: February 15, 2023, 8:35 AM EST

More than 41,000 people are dead after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria on Feb. 6, according to Turkish and Syrian officials.

The pre-dawn quake was centered in the town of Pazarcik in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province and was followed by several powerful aftershocks. Thousands of buildings were toppled on both sides of the border, and the death toll continued to rise as rescue workers searched for survivors in the massive piles of rubble.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook central Turkey early Monday and was followed by a strong aftershock.
Associated Press Staff/AP

Latest headlines:

Here's how the new is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 06, 2023, 1:19 PM EST

US deploying 2 search and rescue teams

The U.S. is deploying two 79-person urban search and rescue teams to Turkey, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Romanian rescue worker pets his sniffing rescue dog during a briefing before being deployed to Southern Turkey to help local authorities in their rescue missions after an earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, in Bucharest, Romania, Feb 6, 2023.
ROBERT GHEMENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterst

PHOTO: This aerial view shows residents, aided by heavy equipment, searching for victims and survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake in the village of Besnia near the twon of Harim, Idlib province, Syria, Feb. 6, 2022.
This aerial view shows residents, aided by heavy equipment, searching for victims and survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake in the village of Besnia near the twon of Harim, in Idlib province, Syria, Feb. 6, 2022.
Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images

"The president has authorized an immediate U.S. response. So right now, in addition to personnel currently on the ground, we are in the process of deploying additional teams, including two 79-person urban search and rescue teams, to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and to help address the needs of all those who have been hurt or displaced by the earthquake,” Kirby said.

-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky

Feb 06, 2023, 12:40 PM EST

Death toll nears 2,500

At least 2,494 people have died in Turkey and Syria.

A man looks on at search and rescue operations conducted in the rubble of a collasped building, in Diyarbakir, Feb. 6, 2023, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's south-east.
Ilyas Akengin/AFP via Getty Images

The death toll in Turkey has climbed to 1,651 across 10 Turkish provinces, according to the Turkish Emergency Management Agency.

In Syria, at least 843 people have been killed in three cities, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.

PHOTO: This aerial view shows residents searching for victims and survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake in the village of Besnia near the twon of Harim, in Syria's Idlib province on the border with Turkey, Feb. 6, 2022
Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images

Feb 06, 2023, 11:34 AM EST

No casualties on US base

There are no known casualties among U.S. personnel assigned to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, and no major damage to facilities, a base spokesperson told ABC News.

The base is roughly 125 miles from the earthquake's epicenter.

The 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik "is still mission operational," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Air Force is prepared to assist Turkey if called upon, according to the spokesperson.

-ABC News’ Matt Seyler

Feb 06, 2023, 11:03 AM EST

More than 4,200 buildings destroyed

More than 2,800 buildings across Turkey have been completely destroyed, according to Turkey’s Emergency Management Agency, while over 1,400 buildings were demolished in Syria, according the Syrian Civil Defense Agency.

Emergency team members search for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey, Feb. 6, 2023.
Khalil Hamra/AP

At least 45 nations have pledged to send volunteers and other aid to Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.