Temperatures dip below zero

As we reach the 48-hour mark since the earthquakes took place, freezing weather is making rescue efforts difficult in Turkey and Syria.

With daytime weather staying above zero degrees Celsius, the night will be the coldest as temperatures in places like Gaziantep, near the epicentre of the earthquake in Turkey, could hit lows of -5C, according to Sky News Weather.

"We have to fight against the weather and the earthquake at the same time," said Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.

Earthquake-hit areas will be mainly dry for the rest of this week, after a winter storm brought strong winds, heavy rain and mountain snow to Turkey and parts of the Middle East.

The first 72 hours of the rescue operation are the most crucial to reaching survivors stuck under the rubble. Experts, however, have told MEE that with the freezing temperatures that time period could be even shorter, as many risk hypothermia.