The death toll from a huge earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed above 15,800 on Thursday, as rescuers raced to reach survivors stuck under rubble in freezing weather.

Officials and medics said 12,873 people had died in Turkey and 2,992 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 15,865.

A destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Photo: AP)