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 climbs to 3,700
At least 3,727 lives have been lost in the devastating quake.
The death toll in Turkey has climbed to 2,379 across 10 Turkish provinces, according to Turkish Emergency Management.
In Syria, at least 1,411 people died in three cities, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
Harrowing photo shows rescue efforts in Turkey
A harrowing photo captured the moment rescue workers carried a young girl, draped in blankets, away from a demolished building in Turkey.
Turkey declares 7 days of mourning
Turkey has declared a seven-day mourning period in the wake of the devastating quake, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
“Our flag will be hoisted at half-mast until sunset on Sunday, February 12, 2023, in all our country and foreign representations,” Erdogan said.
More than 3,400 buildings in Turkey have been destroyed and over 11,000 people are hurt, according to Turkish officials.
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
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.
"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
US ‘ramping up’ assistance to Turkey, Syria: White House
The United States is “ramping up” assistance to Turkey and Syria, White House spokesperson John Kirby said Friday.
“In Turkey, a USAID Disaster Assistance and Response Team is already on the ground. And two of our most highly trained urban search and rescue teams are conducting operations in support of Turkish rescue efforts in Adana -- one of the hardest-hit areas inside the country,” Kirby said. “These teams have nearly 200 personnel combined between them, specialized equipment and canine support dogs, as well.”
Kirby said they’ve been able to “expand their operational reach with the support of U.S. military Blackhawk helicopters” to try and get around the extensive damage to roads and bridges.
“To date, they have been able to cover more than 630 sites across Adana [in Turkey],” Kirby said. “In Syria, our humanitarian partners continue to urgently scale up response efforts to reach people in need. That work will include, or has included, chartered flights that are transporting essential medical supplies and teams distributing hot meals and other food.”
The United Nations and its partners have successfully completed two humanitarian convoys into northwest Syria, Kirby said. One partner delivered 14 additional truckloads of supplies through the Bab-al-Hawa Crossing on the Turkey-Syria border, “totaling now 20 trucks of critical medicines, food and water to people in need over the last two days,” he said.
Kirby said U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria “will not prevent or inhibit prohibiting humanitarian assistance.”
-ABC News’ Justin Gomez