ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of a devastating earthquake in southern Türkiye climbed to 8,574 people, with 49,133 injuries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with residents who found refuge under tents set up by the government during his visit to the southeastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, two days after a strong earthquake struck the region, on February 8, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

There were some problems in the first-day response to the earthquakes, but operations are back to normal at the moment, Erdogan said in the southern Kahramanmaras province, the epicenter of Monday's massive earthquake, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

"On the second day and today, the situation is taken under control," he added.

Quake victims can temporarily reside in hotels in the Mediterranean tourism hub of Antalya and southern Mersin province, he added.

Erdogan announced that 10,000 Turkish liras (nearly 530 U.S. dollars) will be provided to each family affected by the earthquakes, and new housing units will be built within one year in 10 provinces hit by the disaster.

Southern and southeastern parts of Türkiye have been rocked by a catastrophic earthquake disaster on Monday. A magnitude 7.7 quake was followed hours later by a second powerful 7.6 tremor in Kahramanmaras province.

Thousands of rescuers have descended on the quake zone along with international search and rescue teams that poured into the region.

An 82-member Chinese rescue team arrived in Türkiye on Wednesday to assist in rescue efforts in the quake-hit areas of the country.