Death toll in Türkiye exceeds 40,000 after earthquakes

People walk past a collapsed building in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from two major earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye on Feb. 6 has risen to 40,642, the country's disaster agency said Saturday.

Search and rescue efforts will be largely completed as of Sunday evening, Yunus Sezer, head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said at a press conference.

A total of 430,000 people were evacuated from the earthquake area, Sezer said.

People walk past a collapsed building in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

People pass a collapsed building in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 18, 2023 shows earthquake debris in Adiyaman, Türkiye. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

An excavator clears earthquake debris in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

A man walks on earthquake debris in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Workers transfer some pieces of furniture from a residential building that was damaged during the earthquake in Hama, central Syria, on Feb. 18, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)

Excavators clear earthquake debris in Adiyaman, Türkiye, Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)