Rescuers in Turkey and Syria braved freezing darkness, aftershocks and collapsing buildings on Tuesday, as they dug for survivors buried by a string of earthquakes that killed at least 6,200 people.
Disaster agencies said several thousand buildings had been flattened in cities across a vast border region - pouring misery on an area already plagued by war, insurgency, and a recent cholera outbreak.
Through the night, survivors used their bare hands to pick over the twisted ruins of multi-storey apartment blocks - trying to save family, friends and anyone else sleeping inside when the first massive 7.8-magnitude quake struck early on Monday.
There have since been a series of aftershocks, which have measured up to 7.5 in magnitude.
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Syrians find shelter in cars and basements after quake
Cars and basements have become temporary shelters for Syrians in regions hit by the earthquake, amid plunging temperatures and stormy weather.
Despite the freezing weather, Syrian families across northwest Syria – especially those close to the Turkish border, are resorting to sheltering in cars, parks and open spaces, fearful of further earth tremors that could lead their homes to collapse with them and their families inside.
The Assistance Coordination Unit said the number of families estimated to have been left without shelter across northwest Syria is over 11,000, and are calling for the land crossing into Turkey to be opened immediately for the transport of the injured, and the influx of emergency aid.