7.8 earthquake hits Turkey and Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Monday at dawn, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and Syria, killing hundreds in both countries with many still struck under rubbles.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management agency said the earthquake killed at least 76 people in seven Turkish provinces.
In Syria, the initial death toll, according to the Syria’s Ministry of Health, has reached 237 deaths and 637 injured in Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Tartus, while areas held by the Syrian opposition in Idlib and Afrin in northwest Syria, the death toll is said to be reached 22.
The death toll in both countries is expected to rise.
The panicked residents in both countries went out to streets for fear of toppling buildings, and rescue teams and residents rushed to search for survivors under rubbles.
The earthquake was centered in the Turkish city of Gaziantep and it was felt as far as Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 33 kilometers (20 miles) from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital. It was centered 18 kilometers (11 miles) deep, and a strong 6.7 aftershock rumbled about 10 minutes later.