Rescuers continue to search for survivors after two powerfully destructive earthquakes shook the largely populated cities in Turkey and Syria, early Monday morning. The aftermath of the quakes resulted in thousands of homes destroyed and more than 5,000 people dead, according to The Wall Street Journal. Civilians joined the rescue teams, searching through the rubble in hopes of finding their loved ones alive.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake had a depth of about 11 miles (17.9 kilometers) and struck about 20 miles east-southeast of Gaziantep. A 6.7 magnitude temblor was reported just 10 minutes after the initial quakes with a total of 44 aftershocks following up. Among those found dead across the 10 provinces, an additional 11,119 civilians were injured, according to the country’s health minister.

Following the quake, United States President Joe Biden expressed his condolences and mentioned taking next steps to provide any and all needed assistance, moving forward.

In a recent tweet the president stated:

More than 10 search and rescue teams have assembled from the European Union, with further assistance from nations like Canada, Israel, Russia and China calling to relax some of the political restrictions on aid entering northwest Syria. The Turkish armed forces have set up an air corridor to enable search and rescue teams to reach the primary zones affected. The International Rescue Committee has called for increased funding for humanitarian aid in Syria, stating that medical care in the region was “strained beyond capacity, even before the tragedy.”

The number of deaths and injured civilians is projected to rise rapidly in the days to come.

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