Aftershocks and bitterly cold weather are also hampering rescue efforts and leaving what the WHO estimates as 23 million people across the two countries “exposed”, including over 1 million children.

According to Oxfam, which has launched an appeal to help affected people, the “vast” destruction has not only killed scores but has created a nightmare situation for survivors. “It is a double tragedy for survivors having to cope too with the cold and who will be unable to sleep outside. It is horrifying to contemplate how people will even be able to cope, given that some areas are even now in snow,” said Meryem Aslan, an Oxfam spokesperson based in Ankara, Turkey.

To help with relief efforts, international aid is currently being sent to the affected region from the UN, EU, Nato and the governments of the US, UK, China, Russia, India, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Pakistan, among others.

Everything we know about the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake and what you can do to help