Turkey, Syria Earthquakes: Rescuers Race Against Time To Find More Survivors As Toll Crosses 15000 Mark

Ankara: The 3 devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday have caused severe destruction. The death toll in both the countries has crossed 15 thousand. 

The number of injured has reached close to 40 thousand. The United Nations warned that thousands of children may be among the dead.

Rescuers are racing against time to find more survivors in Turkey and Syria amid the harsh freezing temperatures. Survivors are still being pulled from collapsed buildings.

 3 lakh people forced to leave their homes in Syria

More than 70 countries around the world including WHO and UN have come forward for assistance. According to local media, 3 lakh people have been forced to leave their homes in Syria.

Erdogan admits initial response was slow

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has admitted that his government's initial response to the earthquake was slow, amid growing public anger at the government. 

After the earthquake, people in many areas had complained about the late arrival of rescue workers as well as not getting relief material on time and accused the government of neglect.

However, President Erdogan said that the government is doing everything possible to help all people and that no one will remain homeless in the country.

Entire city blocks lie in ruins

Some of the heaviest devastation occurred near the quake's epicentre, between Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep, where entire city blocks lay in ruins.

Turkey said nearly 3,000 buildings had collapsed in seven different provinces, including public hospitals.

13th century mosque, ancient castle partially collapse in Turkey

A famous mosque dating back to the 13th century partially collapsed in the province of Maltaya, where a 14-story building with 28 apartments that housed 92 people collapsed.

Social media posts showed a 2,200-year-old hilltop castle built by Roman armies in Gaziantep lying in ruins, its walls partially turned to rubble.

Two sites on World Heritage List in Syria damaged

In Syria, the health ministry reported damage across the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus, where Russia is leasing a naval facility.

The UN's cultural body UNESCO warned that two sites on its World Heritage List, the old city of Syria's Aleppo and the fortress in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, had sustained damage and that several others may also have been hit.