Turkey, Syria Earthquake Live Updates: Desperate search near epicenter as toll nears 12,000

Syria requests EU support for the first time after earthquake

Syria has, for the first time, asked for assistance from the European Union, two days after a devastating earthquake killed more than 11,000 people there and in neighbouring Turkey, the European Commission said on Wednesday. The EU said it would provide additional emergency support to both countries and emergency humanitarian assistance worth 6.5 million euros ($7 million) in one of the largest ever search and rescue operations through its Civil Protection Mechanism.

Turkish leader admits 'shortcomings' as quake toll tops 12,000

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday conceded "shortcomings" after criticism of his government's response to the massive earthquake that has killed over 12,000 people in Turkey and Syria. The sprawling scale of the disaster that flattened thousands of buildings, trapping an unknown number of people, has swamped relief operations already hampered by freezing weather.

Officials and medics said 9,057 people had died in Turkey and 2,992 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the total to 12,049.

Earthquake death toll in northwest Syria climbs to more than 1,730: Civil defence

At least 1,730 people were killed in northwest Syria by the major earthquake, Syria's civil defence said on Wednesday. Syrian civil defence said on Twitter the casualties toll has risen to 1,730 deaths and more than 2,850 injured.

Death toll rises above 12,000 in Turkey, Syria quake

We have deployed more than 150 search and rescue personnel to Turkey: US secretary of state Antony Blinken

They lifted slabs of cement with enormous cranes and smashed rubble with jackhammers. Then, they stopped. Silence.

Twelve years ago, Abdel-Karim Abu Jalhoum fled war and poverty in the Palestinian territory of Gaza for safety in Turkey. On Monday, the massive earthquake that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria killed him and his entire family.

Works being done on opening two border gates at border with Syria for humanitarian aid after quake: Turkey's foreign minister

More than 6 tons of emergency relief assistance has been delivered through a C130J IAF aircraft to Damascus, Syria: MEA

Indian embassy ascertaining the well-being of Indian nationals in the affected region, particularly in Adana, Gaziantep, Malatya and Kahramanmaras provinces of Turkey: MEA

PM Modi had directed that all possible assistance be extended to the affected people in Turkey and Syria: MEA

Kerela announces Rs 10 crore relief package for quake-hit Turkey, Syria

Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal Wednesday announced in the assembly that Kerala will provide Rs 10 crore for earthquake relief hit Turkey and Syria where over 7000 people have been killed in a deadly earthquake.Kerala Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan on Wednesday presented a resolution in the state assembly expressing condolences to the people who lost their lives in the deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria said there was still no access to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing into rebel-held regions

Critics have accused the Syrian government of deliberately slowing down the process because it does not recognize aid groups operating in rebel-held areas and has sought to cut off support for those areas throughout the conflict.

In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border

Experts say the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or otherwise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rapidly

Desperate search near epicenter as toll nears 12,000

Two days after a devastating earthquake killed more than 11,600 people in Turkey and Syria and left many more injured and homeless, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey made his first visit to the disaster-stricken zone on Wednesday to tell his people how much his government had done to help and how much more aid was on the way.

Erdogan condemns criticism of Turkey's quake response

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday condemned criticism of the government's response to devastating earthquakes that have killed more than 11,000 people in southern Turkey and northwest Syria."This is a time for unity, solidarity. In a period like this, I cannot stomach people conducting negative campaigns for political interest," he told reporters on his arrival in the southern province of Hatay.

Erdogan acknowledges 'shortcomings' in quake response

Sanctions don't cover humanitarian challenges: MEA on assistance to quake-hit Syria

India followed the G20 mantra 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' to help quake-hit Syria, the Ministry of External Affairs said adding that the sanctions don't cover humanitarian assistance.India has sent humanitarian support in the aftermath of the earthquake that impacted the country. After the Syrian civil war in 2011, the US, EU, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the Arab League, as well as other countries imposed sanctions against Syria.

Turkey's President Erdogan: Earthquake death toll in Turkey rises to 9,057

India deployed 2 Turkish-speaking officers, 4 MEA personnel in Turkey

"MEA has deployed two Turkish-speaking officers from overseas who flew into Turkey and are stationed there. We have also deployed four MEA personnel to cooperate and help in the operation and coordinate between the Turkish authorities and our teams," MEA Secretary West Sanjay Verma said during the special briefing on 'Operation Dost.'"We have also set up a control room in Adana. The consul general from Istanbul and other officials from our mission in Ankara are all stationed on the ground in the affected areas," the MEA Secretary said.

Ten at a time funerals for Turkey quake victims

Senior UN aid official said hopeful will be able to deliver aid tomorrow across the border from Turkey to northwest Syria

Nearly 300,000 displaced by Syria quake, state media reports

More than 298,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to this week's deadly earthquake, Syrian state media reported, in an apparent reference to the parts of Syria under government control, not those held by other factions.State news agency SANA quoted Hussein Makhlouf, minister of local administration and environment, as saying the state had also opened 180 shelters for displaced people.

10 Indians stuck in remote areas of quake-hit Turkey, but safe: MEA

Ten Indians are stuck in remote parts of earthquake-hit Turkiye but they are safe while one citizen is missing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. He said the government is in touch with the family members of the Indian who is missing in Turkiye. India has already sent relief materials to Turkiye in four military transport aircraft.

51 rescuers and a specially trained Dog squad in third team of Indian rescuers bound for Turkey

Third NDRF team from India to leave for earthquake hit Turkey

India is rushing a fresh team of National Disaster Response Force along with other necessary equipment to Turkey where over 5,000 people have been killed in a huge earthquake on Monday.Two teams are already on ground in Turkey and have launched rescue operations at multiple collapsed structures, the NDRF Director General Atul Karwal said today.The third team has already been airlifted from Varanasi to Delhi and the rescuers are expected to leave for the disaster-struck nation by tonight on board an IAF plane, he said.

Turkey said almost 3,000 buildings had collapsed in seven different provinces

Some of the heaviest devastation reported near the quake's epicentre between Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep

Indian missing in earthquake-hit Turkey, MEA says in touch with his family

Dozens of nations including the United States, China and the Gulf States have pledged to help in the crisis

More survivors found as Turkey-Syria quake toll tops 11,200

Emergency workers on Wednesday saved some children found under a collapsed building in the hard-hit Turkish province of Hatay, where whole stretches of towns have been levelled. "All of a sudden we heard voices and thanks to the excavator... immediately we heard the voices of three people at the same time," said rescuer Alperen Cetinkaya."We are expecting more of them... the chances of getting people out of here alive are very high," he added.

Erdogan visits earthquake-hit south as anger grows over rescue effort

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan visited southern Turkey on Wednesday to see first-hand the destruction wrought by a massive earthquake as anger grew among local people over what they said was a slow government response to the rescue and relief effort. Erdogan, who has declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces and sent in troops to help, arrived in the city of Kahramanmaras to view the damage and see the rescue and relief effort.The disaster poses a new challenge to him in the election he faces in May that was already set to be the toughest of his two decades in power.

Turkish president vows 'no one will be left in streets'

Death toll in Turkey-Syria earthquake rises to over 11,000

Syria has activated EU civil protection mechanism for assistance

Syria has activated the EU civil protection mechanism two days after a massive earthquake in Syria and Turkey that killed more than 9,600 people, the European Commission's head of crisis management Janez Lenarcic said on Wednesday."Earlier today, this morning, we have received a request from the government of Syria for assistance through the civil protection mechanism," European Commissioner for crisis management Janez Lenarcic told reporters.Lenarcic said member states are encouraged to contribute with assistance as requested.

Under #OperationDost, India is sending search and rescue teams, a field hospital, materials, medicines and equipment to Türkiye and Syria. This is an ongoing operation and we would be posting updates: EAM Dr S Jaishankar

Pope calls for support for Syria-Turkey quake victims

Pope Francis offered his prayers for the thousands of victims of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey on Wednesday and called on the international community to continue to support rescue and recovery efforts. "I am praying for them with emotion and I wanted to say that I am close to these people, to the families of the victims and everyone who is suffering from this devastating disaster," he said. "I thank those who are offering help and encourage everyone to show solidarity with these countries, some of which have already been battered by a long war," he added at the end of his weekly audience in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican.

Turkey's president arrives to earthquake-hit region - Presidency.

Turkey-Syria toll reaches 9,638, rescue efforts becoming 'harder'

The death toll from the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this week has reached 9,638 on Wednesday, with rescue efforts becoming "harder" due to freezing weather in the two countries, authorities said. In its latest update, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said the overall death toll currently stood at 7,108, while the number of injured persons increased to 40,910, as per reports.

Death toll to rise further

According to aid organisations and rescuers, the number of fatalities is expected to rise as many people are still buried beneath the wreckage. Those who could not leave the city on Tuesday sought sanctuary in malls, stadiums, mosques, and community centres because the airport and numerous roads outside the city were blocked.

Istanbul bourse suspends trading after main index drops 7%

Turkey's Borsa Istanbul suspended trading on its equity and derivatives markets after two market-wide circuit breakers failed to stop a slide in the main index, which fell 7% within the first hour of trading. "Trading in Equity Market and Single Stock & Index Futures and Options Contracts in the Derivatives Market has been suspended," it said in a statement. The stock market operator did not say when trade would resume.

Fourth Indian Air Force plane carrying earthquake relief assistance lands in Turkey

A fourth C17 plane of the Indian Air Force carrying relief assistance for Turkey's earthquake victims landed in Adana on Wednesday. The plane landed at 4.30 IST (local time). India had dispatched its fourth batch of aid, including 54 members of the medical team from the Indian Army as part of the country's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief on Tuesday.

India sends humanitarian aid to quake-hit Turkey and Syria under 'Operation Dost'

China offers emergency aid of $4.4 million to earthquake-hit Syria

China will offer emergency humanitarian aid of 30 million yuan ($4.4 million) to earthquake-hit Syria, its foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

Turkey, Syria rattled by deadliest quake in more than a decade

The death toll from the earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria has climbed past 9,400, making it the deadliest seismic event in more than a decade. More than 30,000 people have been injured, and authorities expect the death toll to continue to climb as rescue workers race to pull survivors from the rubble in cities and towns across a wide area. In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggered a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people.