Over 100 Dead in Massive Earthquake that Hit Turkey, Syria

Over 100 people are feared to have died in the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday. Buildings collapsed while people were still in their sleep. Authorities of Turkey put the initial death toll at 53 with speculations that the death toll can be much higher. Similarly, as per initial reports, 42 were killed in government-controlled parts of Syria and eight others died in northern areas of Syria controlled by pro-Turkish factions.

A powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hit Turkey on Monday. Several buildings collapsed because of this massive earthquake. Tremors of this quake were also felt in Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus. As per reports, some buildings were damaged in Aleppo in northern Syria.

According to the US Geological Survey, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck southern Turkey in the wee hours of Monday, followed by another strong temblor of magnitude 6.7. The initial quake was centered 26 km east of Nurdagi city in the Gaziantep province, at a depth of 17.9 km. The second one struck minutes later in central Turkey, at a depth of 9.9 km.

The head of the Turkish Red Cross said it was mobilising resources for the region as it had received information of serious damage and collapsed buildings.

People in the Syrian capital of Damascus, as well as in the Lebanese cities of Beirut and Tripoli felt intense tremors and ran outside in fear.