Late night update

Hello MEE readers. More than a week after two powerful earthquakes hit southern Turkey and Syria, the death toll in Turkey has increased to become the highest in the country's modern history.

Currently, the death toll in Turkey stands at 35,418 people. In Syria, the combined death toll is 3,688 - 1,414 people have died in government-controlled areas while the tally in northwest Syria is 2,274, according to the latest assessment from the Syrian Civil Defence group, also known as the White Helmets.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the country needed stricter enforcement of its laws and regulations for buildings. Last week, the owner of a major apartment complex destroyed in the quakes was arrested at Istanbul airport while he was trying to leave the country.

The United Nations has meanwhile launched a nearly $400m appeal for Syria, and says it is planning a similar one for Turkey.

But that money is nowhere near the amount needed for either country to fully recover. A Turkish report said that the estimated financial damage for the country will be around $84bn.

MEE is going to be pausing its coverage for now, but will pick back up soon. To stay updated with the latest news on the earthquakes, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.