The death toll from Monday's devastating earthquakes and more than 300 aftershocks in southeast Turkey and northern Syria soard over 6,000 Tuesday, authorities said, as crews raced to try to find survivors in the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings. The aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.7 temblor that hit Tuesday, made the searching itself dangerous.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that he was declaring a state of emergency for three months across 10 provinces in the earthquake zone, Turkish media reported. The country's vice president, Fuat Oktay, told reporters 8,000 people had been pulled from under rubble. He said there were 20,000 people taking part in the rescue efforts.
Tens of thousands of people were injured in the two nations and an untold number left homeless in harsh winter conditions.
Nations from around the world began pouring aid materials into the region. Oktay said rescue teams from 14 countries were already in Turkey and teams from 70 more nations were expected as the day progressed.
The official responsible for properties belonging to the Roman Catholic Church across the Middle East said he would open all churches in northern Syria to people needing shelter after Monday's devastating earthquakes.
The office of Rev. Francesco Patton said the properties would be able to shelter hundreds of people and provide medical care and food to thousands, The Associated Press reported.