Turkey-Syria earthquake death toll tops 15,000

The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has risen to more than 15,000.

At least 12,391 people have died in Turkey, according to officials, while at least 2,992 have been killed in Syria.

While countries from around the world have sent rescue teams and supplies to quake-stricken Turkey, little of that help has arrived in rebel-held parts of northwestern Syria, according to residents there.

“I call on the international community, the Arab countries and the United Nations to urgently help us,” said medical volunteer Obaida Rannoush, who was standing by the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Turkey and Syria.

“More than 60 hours after the quake took place, there are still hundreds trapped under the debris. We cannot rescue them because of our meagre resources. We need heavy machinery, humanitarian and medical aid,” he said.

Until now, not a single humanitarian convoy has crossed the border, he said.

“We have not received any kind of assistance,” he stressed. “We are standing here by the border crossing to ask for humanitarian aid so we can save some of the people under the rubble.”