At Least 17 Killed and Hundreds Injured After Powerful Earthquake Strikes Turkey and Syria

At least 17 people were killed and hundreds more injured after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and Syria in the early hours of Monday morning. The quake, which was felt as far away as Cairo, was centered north of the city of Gaziantep in an area about 90 kilometers (60 miles) from the Syrian border.

The quake sent panicked residents pouring outside in a cold winter night, as buildings were toppled and aftershocks were felt across the region. Video shared on social media showed dozens of collapsed buildings, while frightened residents huddled on the darkened streets amid the chaos.

Along with several cities, the area is home to millions of Syrian refugees who fled their country’s long-running civil war. Rescue workers and residents using flashlights were searching through piles of tangled metal and concrete rubble in one of the stricken cities. The quake struck while residents were likely asleep and unprepared for the impact.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said that at least 17 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the quake. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. AFAD also said that hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed in the quake.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi, Gaziantep province at a depth of 24.1 kilometers (14.9 miles). Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the government was working to provide assistance to those affected by the quake.