According to the latest data from the Turkish and Syrian authorities, more than 3.600 people died in the devastating earthquakes that hit the two countries. Thousands of people are under the rubble, and rescuers are frantically trying to reach the survivors.

But a senior representative of the World Health Organization warns that the number of victims could be eight times higher, reports "Bi-bi-si".

"The same thing always happens when it comes to earthquakes. Unfortunately, the initial number of dead or injured will increase significantly in the coming weeks, WHO's senior representative for Europe told AFP. Kathy Smallwood.

She added that many people will be left homeless in cold and snowy weather, which further complicates the situation.

So far, the most destructive earthquake in Turkey was the one in 1939, when 33.000 people died. In the earthquake that hit Izmit and its surroundings in 1999, there were over 17.000 victims.