Search-and-rescue efforts continue in Turkey, Syria after earthquakes

now to the search and rescue efforts after the massive earthquakes along the Turkish and Syrian border. The number of deaths has now surpassed 20,000. And that is more than the number of people who died in 2011 after an earthquake hit Fukushima, Japan and triggered a tsunami. CBS two's Tina Kraus reports that the survivors in Turkey and Syria are desperately in need of help. Drone footage taken above Turkey's border with Syria shows the frantic search for life in a sea of devastation. The painstaking operation going from day tonight with crews racing against time. This team in southern Turkey chipped away at a demolished residential building trying to reach a 40 year old woman trapped in the rubble.

Trumma shift, Nati, to motivate. She has several layers of thick concrete on top of her. This worker says she's lying on her stomach, making the rescue difficult. Unseasonably cold weather with temperatures dropping 15 degrees lower than normal as well as flooding has made the catastrophe even worse. There are so many that simply cannot go back into their homes. U. S.

Ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flakes, says the U. S. Is sending more aid to help those displaced. We have black hawks available that are flying missions to get relief workers where they need to go as well as evacuate those who are heard. The United Nations Secretary General confirmed a U. N. Aid convoy made it from Turkey into northwest Syria for the first time since the earthquake.

It's including six trucks carrying shelter and other desperately need relief supplies. More help is on the way, but much more, much more is needed. The call going out for donations from across the globe amid the unprecedented disaster. Tina Krause, CBS News on our website. You can find ways to help earthquake survivors. We have a link to several reputable aid agencies helping both countries. That's at CBS New York dot com.

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CBS2 News At 5, Turkey, Syria