STORY: The unaccompanied babies were brought to the airport by ambulances and handed over to caregivers who boarded the government jet.

Video released by the Turkish presidency showed caregivers cradling and feeding the babies inside the plane with one being fed through a syringe. The babies were to be taken to a hospital in Ankara.

The death toll in Turkey from the devastating quake jumped to 12,873 by Thursday morning.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces and sent troops to help, visited Kahramanmaras on Wednesday, where he said there had been early problems with roads and airports but "we are better today."