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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CAIR-NY says former board member and his family were killed in earthquake

The Council on American-Islamic Relations' New York chapter tweeted Wednesday that a former board member, Burak Firik, along with his wife and two children were killed in Turkey during the earthquake.

A CAIR-NY representative told ABC News that the family, from Queens, was in Turkey to take care of Firik's father, who was having health issues.

-ABC News' Darren Reynolds


Death toll surpasses 15,000 in Turkey, Syria

Monday's massive earthquake and powerful aftershocks have killed at least 12,391 people and injured 62,914 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' Ellie Kaufman


3 Americans killed in Turkey by earthquake: State Department

Three U.S. citizens have been identified as among the more than 12,000 victims of the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria this week, the State Department confirmed Wednesday.

"We can confirm reports of at least three U.S. citizens killed in southeastern Türkiye," a State Department spokesperson said. "Our staff in Türkiye and here in the United States are working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to these victims and their family members."

The State Department is working closely with local authorities and other partner organizations to assist U.S. citizens in affected areas, the spokesperson added.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford


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


USAID announces $85 million for earthquake relief

The United States Agency for International Development is providing $85 million in “urgent humanitarian assistance" that will go toward shelter, "food, medicine and other desperately needed aid to those in need” in Turkey and Syria, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced Thursday on Twitter.

This comes as American responders are “leading the search for survivors” in Adiyaman, Turkey, said USAID spokesperson Jessica Jennings.

“Using sensitive cameras, listening devices, and search-and-rescue dogs, the team is able to target their search for survivors more accurately,” she said.

In Syria, Jennings said access to some of the hardest-hit areas remains “extremely challenging” due to damage to infrastructure, the security situation and weather concerns. However, she said that as of Thursday, one USAID partner was able to move six truckloads of supplies into the country.

-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford