Turkey-Syria earthquake updates: Death toll climbs to over 41,000
The Feb. 6 quake was centered in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province.
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.
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Death toll climbs to over 37,000 in Turkey, Syria
Last week's massive earthquake and powerful aftershocks have killed at least 31,643 people in southeastern Turkey, according to the latest figures from the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
Meanwhile, at least 5,714 people were killed in both government- and rebel-controlled areas of northwestern Syria, according to combined figures from the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Syrian civil defense and medical group that operates in opposition-held areas, known as the White Helmets.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Joe Simonetti
Little girl rescued after 178 hours in rubble
A little girl named Miray was rescued after 178 hours in the rubble in Turkey, Reuters reported, citing Turkey's transport minister.
People yelled "God is great" as Miray was placed onto a stretcher, Reuters reported.
The little girl's age and condition were not immediately clear.
More than 100 arrest warrants issued in Turkey over collapsed buildings
Turkish authorities have issued at least 113 arrest warrants as of Monday in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in southeastern Turkey last week during the massive earthquake and powerful aftershocks.
The warrants are targeting contractors who are allegedly linked to the collapsed buildings.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti
Death toll surpasses 33,000 in Turkey, Syria
More than 33,000 people are dead in Turkey and Syria as a result of last week's earthquake and aftershocks, officials said.
At least 29,605 people had died in Turkey, officials announced Sunday. More than 3,500 have died in Syria, local officials said late Sunday.
Another 80,000 people have been injured, officials said.
-ABC News' Edward Szekeres
American search and rescue teams to start work Wednesday
Stephen Allen, USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team leader for the agency’s earthquake response, said his top priority is getting two American urban search and rescue teams to the region.
"Every hour does count in the first few days,” he said.
The responders are en route to Turkey, where they are expected to land at Incirlik Air Base in Adana Wednesday morning local time, Allen said. They’ll immediately start the long journey to Adıyaman, a city in southeastern Turkey that’s been heavily impacted by the quake, but has not had access to many search and rescue teams, Allen said.
The Americans are bringing about 170,000 pounds of specialized tools and equipment, including hydraulic concrete breaking gear, saws, torches, drills and advanced medical supplies to treat and triage the wounded, he said. They will also have about a dozen dogs who Allen said will play a “very key” role in looking for survivors strapped in the rubble.
Sending search and rescue teams to a disaster site so far away is “not something that we would normally do, frankly,” he said, however Turkey officials asked for assistance because its own considerable national search and rescue capabilities are outmatched by the “size and scale” of the devastation.
“I do need to emphasize the level of devastation, the level of damage, and the expected result in loss of life is massive. It’s massive,” he said.
-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford