Strong quake kills nearly two thousand across Türkiye, Syria

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: A major earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck southern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, killing nearly two thousand people as buildings collapsed and triggering a search for survivors trapped in the rubble.

Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said that the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4:17 am (0117 GMT) and was centred in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province on Monday.

AFAD earlier updated the intensity of the quake from 7.4 to 7.7 magnitude at 0955 GMT.

At least 1,121 people have been reported killed in Türkiye, according to AFAD, and 7,634 people were reported injured in the quakes that destroyed dome 2,834 buildings.

In Syria, the latest numbers from the regime’s health ministry and Syrian Civil Defence showed at least 783 people were killed after the quake in Türkiye jolted the wider region.

The quake in Türkiye occurred at a depth of 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) and was followed by 105 aftershocks, including two magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 quakes that struck southeastern Gaziantep province, according to the latest AFAD data.

Rescue and relief efforts are continuing in full force.