ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook southeast Turkey early Monday and was followed by another strong temblor. It was felt in several provinces in the region and knocked down a number of buildings, reports said.
The U.S. Geological Survey said quake was centered about 33 kilometers (20 miles) from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital. It was about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the town of Nurdagi.
It was centered 18 kilometers (11 miles) deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A strong 6.7 temblor rumbled about 10 minutes later.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management agency, AFAD, said the quake measured 7.4 and was centered in the town of Pazarcik, in Kahramanmaras province.
Several buildings tumbled down in the neighboring provinces of Malatya, Diyarbakir and Malatya, HaberTurk television reported. There was no immediate reports on casualties.
Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes.
The earthquake was also felt in Lebanon and Syria, and Israel.
Syria’s state media reported that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama.
In Syria’s rebel-held northwest that borders Turkey several buildings collapsed, according to the opposition’s Syrian civil Defense.
There was no immediate word on casualties.
In Beirut and Damascus, buildings shook and many people went down to the streets in fear.
TURKEY — Several hundred people are reportedly dead after a 7.8 MAG earthquake struck the country at 4:30 AM.
Apartment buildings have collapsed and there are many reports of people trapped underneath.pic.twitter.com/W28ztg4gAG
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 6, 2023
Horrific news of tonight’s earthquake in #Turkey & northern #Syria — the damage looks extensive.
The epicenter region is home to millions of refugees and IDPs, many of whom live in tents & makeshift structures. This is the absolute nightmare scenario for them. And it’s winter. pic.twitter.com/oACzWYtWb2
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) February 6, 2023
NEW: It appears the #Turkey #earthquake occurred on the East Anatolian Fault.
Per everything we can tell, the Anatolian Plate moved southwest past the Arabian plate. While the Arabian plate is slowly creeping northward, its slip, relative to other plate, was NE along fault. pic.twitter.com/9dj2WHAlND
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) February 6, 2023
Very scary estimates from the USGS regarding the massive 7.8 magnitude #earthquake in Turkey. Hundreds of fatalities possible along with widespread extensive damage. “Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response”. pic.twitter.com/xxdh9oeEO5
— Collin Gross (@CollinGrossWx) February 6, 2023
Entire buildings collapsed in S. #Turkey the epicenter of 7.8 magnitude earthquake in last hour, that also sent shockwaves to Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Cyprus. We don’t know death toll yet: pic.twitter.com/A7fomc3AXT
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) February 6, 2023
I just felt a powerful earthquake in Jerusalem, Israel.
The entire building was shaking, chandeliers swinging back and forth.
Seems to be aftershock from a much larger earthquake in Southern Turkey.
— Shloime Zionce | שלומי זייאנץ (@Chusidel) February 6, 2023