76 dead as powerful quake of 7.8 magnitude hits Turkey

According to the US Geological Survey, a huge earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Turkey on Monday, 26 kilometres east of Nurdagi (USGS).

More than 140 buildings collapsed injuring over 500 people and killing more than 50, officials said on Monday.

“At least 76 people killed, 440 injured over seven provinces as 7.4 earthquake hits southern provinces of Turkiye,” Anadolu Agency tweeted citing The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of the country Meanwhile, Syrian state media SANA reported that close to 42 people lost their lives in the earthquake in Ankara and nearby regions, including the Syria-Lebanon border. Exams scheduled for Monday in at least two Syrian universities have been postponed, SANA said.

Social media videos showed multiple collapsed buildings and in Turkey and Syria with terrified locals huddling on the streets.

“At least 6 people killed, 79 injured, 6 buildings destroyed in southern Diyarbakir province as 7.4 earthquake hits southern provinces of Turkiye: Diyarbakir governor,” the Anadolu Agency tweeted.

The earthquake struck Turkey at a depth of 17.9 kilometres around 01:17:35 (UTC). The earthquake’s latitude and longitude were determined to be 37.174N and 37.032E by the USGS. Nurdagi, the location of the quake, is a district and city in Turkey’s Gaziantep Province.

Nurdagi is located 45 kilometres west of Gaziantep, Turkey. Aftershocks followed the quake.