• The death toll rose to more than 15,000 people.
• The earthquake could affect up to 23 million people.
• The death toll in Syria remained remarkably stable.

The death toll from Monday’s devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 15,000 people, owing primarily to an increase in the number for Turkey. The death toll in Syria remained remarkably stable, despite relief organizations’ warnings that the figure would most certainly be far higher.

The World Health Organization estimates that the earthquake could affect up to 23 million people in both countries.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway, aided by relief organizations and countries that have dispatched teams to the worst-affected areas, but they face difficult conditions due to thousands of collapsed structures and frigid weather.

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