More than 36,000 are dead after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked both Turkey and Syria, last week on February 6.
The United Nations Emergency Relief Chief now estimates that number will almost double and reach some 56,000 – even as a massive search and rescue operation continues to take effect in both countries.
In addition to the 34,000 Turkish personnel, an additional 10,000 volunteers from 74 countries have joined efforts to help find survivors in the rubble.
Since then rescue crews have continued to find survivors throughout the country who have been trapped below rubble for days.