The death toll from the earthquakes in Southeastern Turkey and Syria has climbed to over 33,000, and is growing. The hope of finding survivors under the ruins is dwindling.

A group of Bulgarian volunteers continues the search and rescue operations in the town of Hatay. The EU will send tents, blankets and heaters, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised in a telephone conversation with the President of Turkey Recep Erdogan.

Under its Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU has already dispatched 38 rescue teams comprising more than 1,600 rescuers and 106 dogs. Separately, 12 member countries have sent 50,000 winter weather family tents, 100,000 blankets and 50,000 heaters.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thanked the United Arab Emirates which promised tens of millions of dollars for the restoration of the regions of the country hit by the earthquake. The President of Syria also thanked Qatar which is sending 10,000 container homes to Syria. Humanitarian access to the territories under the control of the rebels in Syria continues to be difficult, the UN says.