A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and Syria on Monday, killing scores of people as per early reports and bringing down high-rise buildings.
USGS
The US Geological Survey said the tremor hit the region at 04:17 am local time at a depth of about 17.9 kilometres (11 miles). A magnitude 6.7 aftershock was felt 15 minutes after the first earthquake.
The earthquake was felt in the neighboring countries of Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus. The more serious damage from the quake was reported from across southern and central Turkey, including capital Ankara.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake had killed more than 17,000 people in the Turkish region of Duzce in 1999.
As per initial count of the dead reported by the AFP news agency, at least 53 people have died in Turkey, while more than 40 were killed in the Syrian regions where the government has control.
