The devastating earthquake: Over 1,900 victims so far in Turkey and Syria

More than 1,900 people have lost their lives in Turkey and Syria by the powerful 7.8-magnitude Richter earthquake, which hit both countries early Monday morning.

Hundreds are believed to be still trapped under rubble, and the number of victims is expected to increase. Rescue workers are continuing their search between ruins in towns and villages throughout the area.

The death toll in southern Turkey rose to 1.121, while of those injured to 7,634, said an official from the Disaster Management and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).

The head of the AFAD Department for Handling Earthquake Risks, Orhan Tarar, said at a media conference that 2,834 buildings have been destroyed by the earthquake and subsequent quakes concentrated in the Kahramanmaras province, stressing that another 120 quakes have been recorded after the earthquake.

Meanwhile, Syria reported 783 deaths.

The Emergency Management Agency reported that a new 7.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded on Monday, near the era of the deadly initial earthquake, causing more earth quakes.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan said earlier that 5,400 people have been injured, while another 2.470 have been removed from the ruins.

Close to 3,000 buildings have collapsed, he said.

Because the removal of the ruins is continuing in many buildings located in the earthquake area, we do not know how much the number of those killed and injured” will increase, Erdogan said.

He said he received help from some 45 countries in the world.

About 9,000 are participating in rescue operations.

Officials in Syria have also reported on thousands of injured persons.

According to Turkey authorities, ten Turkish cities have been affected by the earthquake. They are: Gaziantep, Kahramanmarashi, Hatai, Osmanije, Adjamana, Malta, Chanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir and Chiles. /Celebrating news: Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images