The toll from multiple earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on Tuesday rose to more than 5,000 on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. The toll is likely to increase as debris of several of the close to 6,000 buildings that have collapsed are yet to be cleared.

A major earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hit close to the Turkish city of Gaziantep early on Monday. It was followed by two more major earthquakes, causing widespread destruction.

The first quake struck at 4.17 am local time and the epicentre was located 17.9 kilometres below the ground surface, about 33 kilometres away from Gaziantep. Tremors were also felt in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon and Cyprus.

Efforts to find survivors have been hampered due to sub-zero temperatures and nearly 200 aftershocks that have hit South East Turkey since Monday morning, according to AP.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the total number of deaths in the country has risen to 3,419 by Tuesday afternoon, with another 20,534 people injured. The country’s disaster management authority said that nearly 8,000 people have been rescued from 4,758 destroyed buildings, according to Reuters.

Officials said three major airports were also rendered inoperable, complicating deliveries of vital aid.

A woman reacts as rescuers search for survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey's Adana on February 6. | AFP/CanErok

In Syria, the toll in government-held areas has been recorded at 812. Meanwhile, the White Helmets, the paramedic group which is carrying out rescue operations in the rebel-held areas of the country, has reported the death of 790 people.

The country’s health ministry reported damage across the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus. Most of these areas have been populated by those who have fled the country’s civil war-hit areas. These localities have inadequate healthcare facilities.

Residents and rescuers search for survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings in the village of Besnaya in Syria. | OmarHajKadour/AFP

The Syrian American Medical Society, which runs hospitals in northern Syria and southern Turkey, said in a statement that their facilities were “overwhelmed with patients filling the hallways”, reported Al Jazeera.

International assistance

The United States on Monday said it will send help to Syria, but added that Washington will not deal directly with the Syrian government, which they do not recognise. President Joe Biden said that he has promised his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the US will send “any and all” aid.

Meanwhile, India has dispatched search and rescue teams, medical supplies and other equipment for Turkey on Tuesday morning.

Ten search-and-rescue teams from eight European Union countries have also been dispatched. Aid has also been offered by Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Japan and others.

Watch: Scenes of horrifying devastation emerge across Turkey