ANKARA, Turkey — The demise toll from the huge earthquake that hit elements of Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 continues to rise as extra our bodies are retrieved from the rubble of demolished buildings. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck the already battered province of Hatay this week broken or demolished extra buildings, compounding the devastation.

Right here’s a have a look at the important thing developments Thursday from the aftermath of the earthquake.

DEATH TOLL TOPS 47,000

Turkish Inside Minister Suleyman Soylu has raised the variety of fatalities in Turkey from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake to 43,556.

The mixed demise toll in Turkey and Syria now stands at 47,244.

In an interview with state broadcaster TRT late on Wednesday, Soylu mentioned groups have been sifting by way of two buildings in hard-hit Hatay province searching for additional our bodies. Search operations elsewhere have come to an finish, he mentioned.

In the meantime, not less than 164,000 buildings have both collapsed or are so broken that they must be demolished, mentioned Murat Kurum, Turkey’s minister for the surroundings and urbanization.

SYRIANS SHELTER IN TENTS AND CARS

The native civil protection in northwestern Syria, identified regionally as The White Helmets, mentioned Thursday that 1000’s of kids and tens of 1000’s of households have taken shelter in automobiles and tents “fearing they might face a repeat of the earthquake.”

In government-held Syria, a primary aircraft from Bahrain loaded with assist landed in Damascus. The Gulf monarchy is amongst many Arab international locations that in recent times have tried to thaw relations with President Bashar Assad, after shunning him in 2011 for his brutal crackdown on protesters.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt, two key U.S. allies within the area, have additionally delivered assist.