Turkey earthquake: Rescuers search through rubble on third freezing night as death toll nears 16,000 

• The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has passed 16,000.
• At least 12,873 people have died in Turkey, according to officials, while at least 3,162 have been killed in Syria.
• Hopes of finding survivors are quickly fading and residents of southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria are criticising what they call slow search and rescue efforts.
• Rescue workers are working in freezing cold temperatures and the WHO has warned that many more could die due to the weather. 

Monday’s earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria have now claimed the lives of nearly 16,000 people. Rescuers have worked through a third freezing cold night, digging through rubble, in the hopes of finding life. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that without shelter, water, fuel or electricity, many survivors of the earthquake could still lose their lives. 

UK charities launch disaster appeal

An appeal is being launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help the many thousands of people affected by the earthquake.

The committee is a collective of 15 UK charities – including Oxfam, Save the Children UK and the British Red Cross – which work together to raise money in response to major crises overseas.

The funds raised will go towards medical aid, shelter, food and clean water, as well as blankets, warm clothes and heaters – as homeless survivors and the injured battle freezing temperatures.

The UK government will match the first £2m ($2.4m) of donations from the public.

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed described the scenes in Turkey and Syria as “heartbreaking”, with thousands “losing loved ones, suddenly, in the most shocking of ways”.

Cold weather hampering rescue efforts

Rescuers are working in freezing temperatures to dig through the remains of buildings flattened by the earthquakes.

More bad weather is expected to hit the region, further hampering rescue operations. Downed buildings and destroyed roads have also made it difficult to find survivors and get crucial aid into affected areas. Several airports have also been closed after being damaged by the earthquakes.

The earthquake’s epicentre is home to millions of Syrian refugees living in Turkey outside the city of Gaziantep. Thousands of residents have been left without shelter in freezing temperatures.

Syrian refugees make up more than 1.7 million of the 15 million people inhabiting the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.