Turkey-Syria earthquake: As it happened

More than 50 Arab associations and community groups in Turkey have sent solidarity with the Turkish and Syrian victims of the quake. 

The civil society organisations penned a joint statement expressing their sympathy and support. 

They pledged to “organise relief convoys to rescue the stranded, treat the injured, shelter the homeless, and mitigate the effects of the devastating earthquake”.

The signatories include the Federation of Egyptian Associations, the Union of Iraqi Students, the Palestinian Workers Association, the Algerian Community Forum, the Somali Business Council and members of the Yemeni, Syrian and Tunisian communities. 

President Erdogan has pledged to rebuild the damaged areas of Turkey within a year. 

"Initially there were issues at airports and on the roads, but today things are getting easier and tomorrow it will be easier still," he said, appearing to address criticism that the government’s response was slow. 

"We have mobilised all our resources," he added. "The state is doing its job."

He noted that hotels in the Antalya and Mersin provinces had opened their doors to victims of the quake. 

"Our citizens should not worry. We will never allow for them to remain unsheltered."

Quakes leave 11,000 dead across Turkey and Syria as Erdogan visits epicentre for first time

The death toll in Turkey has reached 8,574, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. 

The Turkish president announced the figure during a visit to Kahramanmaras, one of worst-affected regions by the quake. 

That takes the overall death toll to above 11,000, with at least 2,530 dead in Syria according to combined figures from the government and rescue groups in opposition territory. 

Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul has stopped trading after a 7 percent fall this morning.

The stock had been in free fall since the earthquake, which is estimated to cost billions of dollars to the Turkish economy.

On Tuesday, multiple economists called on authorities to suspend or close the stock exchange. 

Turkish cement stock surged over the past two days, stoking public anger. Investors were accused of opportunism, while people were still fighting for their lives trapped under rubble.

“May Allah curse you,” said the Yeni Cag daily on Tuesday in a headline. “The cement stocks reached the ceiling today as well. When did this society become this bad?” 

Turkish cement stocks surge in last two days, stoking public anger

As rescue workers in Turkey and Syria continue the search for survivors, they face a formidable enemy: hypothermia.

Earthquake-hit cities like Malatya, Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Idlib and Aleppo face the cold, rain and even some snow, as temperatures dip near or below zero.

Experts say the search and rescue workers are running out of time in Turkey, as weather conditions threaten the lives of survivors under the rubble. They add that people could be victims of hypothermia even if the temperatures stay above zero.

Meteorology engineer and disaster management specialist Mikdat Kadioglu told Turkish media that rescue workers will need to rush, as people under the rubble may not survive the general "golden" rule during severe weather: a 72-hour rescue window.

“They might only have 24 hours,” he said.

In Syria, aid agencies are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe after the earthquake halted the flow of critical UN aid from Turkey to rebel-held areas.

Freezing weather conditions have also forced many internally displaced Syrians to seek refuge in open fields and under trees.

With many now stuck in tents, some NGOs say their biggest concern is people dying from the freezing temperatures and potentially suffocating from toxic fumes as Syrians burn fires to stay warm.

"We are already receiving reports of casualties among children and the elderly falling ill and dying because of the cold," said Ahmed Mahmoud, Islamic Relief’s country director for Syria.

The death toll from Monday's powerful earthquakes in southern Turkey climbed to 7,108 according to AFAD, the Turkish disaster agency responsible for dealing with the aftermath of earthquake.

According to AFAD more than 40,900 people have been injured and over 8,500 rescued in 10 provinces.

In Syria the death toll has also climbed to more than 2,530, according to figures compiled from Syria's Health Ministry and the Syrian Civil Defence group, known as the White Helmets in the rebel-held northwestern parts of Syria.

The total death toll now stands at more than 9,638.

Turkey's stock exchange was suspended for the first time in 24 years on Wednesday following a deep selloff triggered by two massive earthquakes. 

More soon.

Spain announced that it would be sending two additional navy ships, frigate Blas de Lezo and logistical support ship Cantabria to Turkey.

The humanitarian mission will be in addition to two additional navy vessels that arrived today in the port city Iskenderun, in southern Turkey.

Spain is one of 40 countries that has joined efforts to help the devastated areas.

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The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Kahramanmaras today to meet earthquake survivors, according to the Turkish Presidency.

The first 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras Province on Monday morning at 4:17am local time. 

There has been mounting frustration that the Turkish government has not been doing enough following two earthquakes that devastated ten Turkish cities.

The Turkish opposition blamed Erdogan for an insufficient emergency response as thousands of people are still believed to be under the rubble in several cities.

Erdogan’s TV appearance on Tuesday also angered many people on social media.

In a combative speech he warned that the government would keep the records of people who disseminate disinformation while the state struggles to take care of its citizens.

Many eyewitnesses, speaking to MEE, have said that the aid efforts particularly in Hatay were insufficient in the first 48 hours of the disaster.

The Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Tuesday night that the search and rescue teams have been doubled in the city where nearly 3,000 building have collapsed.

Erdogan is also expected to visit Hatay this week, a Turkish official said. 

The death toll from Monday's powerful earthquakes in southern Turkey climbed to 6,234 according to AFAD, the Turkish disaster agency responsible for dealing with the aftermath of earthquake.

The number of people injured rose to 37,011, the agency said, adding that more than 79,000 personnel were engaged in search and rescue operations.

The Syrian Civil Defence group, known as the White Helmets, has said that the death toll in the rebel-held northwestern parts of Syria has risen to at least 1,280 deaths and more than 2,600 injured.

In Assad regime controlled areas the death toll is reportedly around 1,22o. The total death toll so far stands at 8,734.

Across Turkey volunteers have been working around the clock to collect essential items for those most affected by the earthquake. 

Irem Danalioglu, 29, spoke to Middle East Eye about her volunteering efforts on Tuesday afternoon.

A content management specialist at Turk Telekom International, one of Turkey's leading operators, Danalioglu took the day off from work to volunteer in Istanbul's Fatih district.

"Coats, boots, sweaters, socks, electric heaters - things that are urgently needed are collected. Within hours of this centre opening up thousands came to help," she said

"Help is being collected and sent to AFAD which is also distributing aid amongst the 10 affected region" added Danalioglu speaking about the Turkish disaster agency responsible for dealing with the aftermath of earthquake.

Danalioglu sent these pictures to MEE.

The UK government has increased its funding to the Syria Civil Defence group (the White Helmets), which operates in rebel-controlled areas of Syria, in order to aid its efforts to tackle the aftermath of the earthquake.

In addition to the £2.25m ($2.7m) it gives to the White Helmets each year, the UK is giving an additional £800,000 ($963,000) to the group, according to the BBC.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told MPs the UK would also provide help to Syria through other organisations, including the International Medical Corps, Save the Children and UN agencies.

"The Conflict Stability and Security Fund will provide an uplift to the opposition Syria Civil Defence – commonly known as the White Helmets – to support their emergency response operations across northwest Syria," Cleverly said.

Rescue efforts in the rebel-held northwestern Syria have been hampered due to the damage done by the earthquake to the roads leading to the Bab el-Hawa crossing, which is the sole border crossing with Turkey.

The Syrian Civil Defence group, known as the White Helmets, has said that the death toll in the rebel-held northwestern parts of Syria has risen to 1,220, while at least 2,600 people have also been injured.

"The number is expected to rise significantly as hundreds of families remain trapped under the rubble," it said on Twitter.

The White Helmets further said that more than 400 buildings have completely collapsed, while an additional 1,300 buildings have been severely damaged.