Death toll in Turkey and Syria from earthquake surpasses 17,000

By Isil Sariyuce, Feb. 9: The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday is now at least 17,176, according to authorities.

In Turkey, the death toll has risen to at least 14,014, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday while visiting impacted areas in the southern city of Gaziantep. 

The total number of deaths in Syria stands at least 3,162, including 1,900 in rebel-held areas in the northwest according to the ‘White Helmets’ civil defence group, and 1,262 deaths in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to Syrian state media.  

Tens of thousands more have been reported injured in both countries, as rescue workers struggle to locate survivors in the rubble of fallen buildings amid a cold winter blast.