Death toll from Turkey-Syria earthquake surpasses 21,000

More than 21,000 people have been killed by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria. At least 17,674 people have died in Turkey, a figure that surpasses the death toll from a traumatic 1999 earthquake in the country. In Syria, authorities reported 3,377 deaths.

International Aid to Syria: A United Nations aid convoy entered rebel-held northwest Syria for the first time since the earthquakes. But for many, the help is insufficient and has come too late. The region is under a blockade by the Assad government.

Rescue Efforts: Hopes began to fade in the search for survivors on the fourth day after the quakes, as the window to survive has begun to close. Relatives of those trapped under rubble have waited days for aid to arrive, in some cases watching helplessly as cries for help fell silent.

Response: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to rebuild every home destroyed within a year and said his government would begin to implement state of emergency powers last used after a failed coup in 2016.