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.
Latest headlines:
Death toll tops 12,000 in Turkey, Syria
Monday's massive earthquake and powerful aftershocks have killed at least 9,057 people and injured 40,910 others in southeastern Turkey, according to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
Meanwhile, at least 2,962 people were killed and 4,654 others were injured 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’ Joe Simonetti and Will Gretsky
Biden offers 'deepest condolences' to Turkey, Syria
President Joe Biden offered his thoughts and prayers on behalf of Americans following the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria during an event in Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon.
"It's one of the worst earthquakes in that region in over 100 years and we mourn the loss of so many lives and we offer our deepest condolences," he said.
Biden also commented on the "amazing" rescue efforts underway.
"You see dads or moms pulling little babies out from underneath this rubble," he said. "So many people dying. And our thoughts are also with the survivors who've been torn apart by this tragedy."
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Turkey stock exchange suspended
Istanbul's stock exchange operator suspended trading for five days in an unprecedented step and announced that all trades that took place on Wednesday would be canceled in the wake of the earthquake.
"Due to the increase in volatility and extraordinary price movements after the earthquake disaster; in order to ensure the reliable, transparent, efficient, stable, fair and competitive functioning of the markets, Equity Market and Equity & Index Derivatives in the Derivatives Market have been closed," Borsa Istanbul, the stock exchange operator, said in a statement on Wednesday.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
Over 600 aftershocks since Monday’s quake
Since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey before dawn on Monday, there have been a total of at least 648 aftershocks in the region.
-ABC News’ Engin Bas
Death toll reaches 41,000
The total number of deaths in Turkey and Syria rose to at least 41,219 on Tuesday.
There were 35,418 people killed in Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In Syria, the death toll currently stands at 5,801 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.
The death toll in Turkey is now more than the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, the previous record for most deaths due to an earthquake in modern Turkish history.