A strong earthquake hit south-eastern Turkiye, near the border with Syria,in the wee hours of Monday killing over 1700 people and injuring hundredsas buildings collapsed across the region, triggering searches for survivorsin the rubble..
A report by US Geological Survey said a powerful quake measuring 7.8 onRichter scale struck at 04:17 local time at a depth of around 18km nearGaziantep – a major city located in Anatolia region.
Soon after the first earthquake, several aftershocks struck thesoutheastern regions, causing further damage.
At least 912 people killed in Turkiye and 540 casualities reported in Syriaafter the strong quake hit the region.
Local officials said that several regions of Turkiye reported damage, whilerescue operations are underway. The tremors were felt in Syria, Lebanon andCyprus, creating huge panic among the masses.
Several buildings have reportedly collapsed, with people trapped under therubble.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said rescue units are on alert. Henoted that rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the provinceaffected by the earthquake.
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Erdogan spoke by telephone with the governors of eight affected provincesto gather information on the situation and rescue efforts, his office saidin a statement.
The country of around 85 million lies in one of the world’s most activeearthquake zones.
In Syria, already devastated by more than 11 years of civil war, agovernment health official said more than 237 people had been killed andsome 600 injured, most in the provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia, wherenumerous buildings tumbled down.
In the Syrian rebel-held northwest, a rescue service said dozens had beenkilled.
