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Earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hits Turkey, Syria; scores dead

Reports say over 200 died in Turkey and the toll is expected to rise

AP02_06_2023_000010B People try to reach trapped residents in a collapsed building in Pazarcik, in Kahramanmaras province, southern Turkey, early Monday | Reuters

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing over 100 people. Tremors were also felt in Cyprus and Lebanon, causing buildings to collapse and sending residents into the snowy streets.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake was centred about 33 kilometres from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital. A strong 6.7 tremor rumbled about 10 minutes later, reported AP. 

Besides Gaziantep, the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras were also hit. According to Turkey's disaster agency, over 76 people have died and scores injured. Authorities have also declared a "level 4 alarm" that calls for international assistance.

Local Turkish media reported that several buildings tumbled down in the neighbouring provinces of Malatya, Diyarbakir and Malatya too. 

 Images doing rounds on social media showed people gathering around the wrecked building searching for survivors. Rescue workers and residents using flashlights were searching through piles of tangled metal and concrete rubble in one of the stricken cities. People on the street shouted up to others inside a partially toppled apartment building, leaning dangerously.

"I have never felt anything like it in the 40 years I've lived. "We were shaken at least three times very strongly, like a baby in a crib," Erdem, a resident of the Turkish city of Gaziantep, told Reuters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the areas hit by the quake. "We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage," he wrote.

There were at least 6 aftershocks, and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu urged people not to enter damaged buildings due to the risks. "Our priority is to bring out people trapped under ruined buildings and to transfer them to hospitals," he said.  

He added that search and rescue teams have been dispatched to the region. "Our first job is to do search and rescue," Soylu told state broadcaster TRT, while requesting people to make way for ambulances.

Earthquake Turkey Syria People gather at the site of a collapsed building, following an earthquake, in Hama, Syria | Reuters

Aleppo, Hama hit in Syria

The earthquake was also felt in Lebanon and Syria. According to Syrian state media, 42 people were killed and more than 200 injured in Syria's Aleppo, Hama and Latakia regions. The tremors were felt in Damascus too. 

According to Syrian Civil Defense, dozens of victims are still trapped under the rubble. In Lebananon, the cities of Beirut and Tripoli were the most affected as people ran into the street to get away from their buildings in case they collapsed, according to Reuters.

 (With inputs from agencies)

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