Death toll in Turkiye, Syria earthquake climbs to over 4,300

Ankara: The death toll from earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria has risen to over 4300, as the rescue and recovery operations are underway despite freezing weather.

Rescue teams continued to search for survivors among the rubble of thousands of toppled buildings following the 7.8 magnitude deadly earthquake.

Turkish and Syrian disaster response teams said more than 5,600 buildings were flattened including many multi-storey apartments where residents were asleep as the quake struck.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced seven days national mourning in the country for the victims the earthquake.

World leaders have pledged to send aid after Turkiye issued an international appeal for help.

The initial earthquake was so large it was felt as far away as Greenland, and the impact is big enough to have sparked a global response.