The death toll from earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria has risen to over 5000, as the rescue and recovery operations are underway despite freezing weather.     

Rescue teams continued 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.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a three-month state of emergency across 10 provinces worst affected by Monday's devastating earthquake.

In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and northern Syria, UN aid agencies have scrambled to help many thousands of reported victims, including those still believed to be buried under the rubble.

A Level 4 alarm has been issued by the Turkish government, requesting international assistance.

In northwest Syria, 4.1 million people rely on humanitarian assistance, mostly women and children.

A cholera outbreak is also ongoing in Syrian communities, coupled with harsh winter weather.

The World Health Organization has warned that up to 23 million people could be affected by the massive earthquake in Turkiye and Syria.  

The body's senior emergencies officer Adelheid Marschang told the WHO's executive committee in Geneva that the WHO considers that the main unmet needs may be in Syria.

Meanwhile, the WHO chief also vowed that the agency will work closely with all partners to support authorities in both countries in the critical hours and days ahead, and in the months and years to come as both countries recover and rebuild.