Turkey's Erdogan tours earthquake zone as death toll there and in Syria swells past 23,000

Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The death toll from Monday's devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on Friday swelled to more than 23,000 with another 80,000 injured.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the damage he saw in southern Turkey on Thursday the "disaster of the century." Officials said at least 20,213 have died in Turkey with another 75,523 injured. In Syria, 3,384 have died in numbers reported by government officials and rebel-held territories. They said 5,245 have been injured.

Erdogan said his government continues to marshal resources to help survivors and assist emergency crews. In Washington on Friday, the White House announced that the U.S. would provide $85 million in assistance for shelter to the displaced, as well as food, medicine and other desperately needed aid. It also said that Black Hawk helicopters are supporting airlift operations from Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye, transporting rescue personnel to sites that are most needed for rescue operations.

In Syria, U.S.-funded humanitarian partners are working with the White Helmets to pull more than 1,000 survivors from the rubble.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said it delivered 72 metric tons of trauma and emergency surgery supplies and treatments to Turkey and Syria.

The WHO said a flight into Turkey on Thursday took 37 metric tons into that country while another flight delivered 35 metric tons to Syria.

"These life-saving health supplies are critical for treating the wounded and providing urgent care to all those affected by this tragedy in both countries," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

"Survivors are facing freezing conditions, continuing aftershocks and very limited access to shelter, food, water, heat and medical care. We're in a race against time to save lives."

Erdogan warned that those involved with the robbing of businesses and attacks during the crisis will be held accountable, saying they "will not leave any room for abuse."

"From now on, these abusers will be subject to the penalties necessary as soon as they have been apprehended," he said, according to CNN.