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Over a thousand dead as magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes southern Türkiye

The earthquake, which was centred in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province, also left major damage and hundreds of casualties in Syria.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to Twitter to convey get well wishes to citizens affected by the initial earthquake.

At least 912 people have been reported killed and 5,385 others injured after a powerful 7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye's southern provinces, hitting hard in Syria as well where over 500 people have been reported killed, officials said.

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

The intensity of the quake was earlier revised by AFAD from magnitude 7.4 to 7.7.

The quake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometres (4.3 miles). It was followed by 78 aftershocks including magnitudes 6.6 and 6.5 that struck southeastern Gaziantep province.

Another 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck at 1024 GMT (1:24 pm), centered in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, according to the Turkish disaster agency.

The initial quake was also felt in neighbouring countries of Syria and Lebanon.

The regime-controlled news agency SANA, citing the health ministry, said at least 339 people were killed and 1,089 injured in regime-controlled areas of the war-torn country.

The White Helmets rescue group said at least 221 were killed and 419 injured in rebel-held areas.

Syria’s regime media reported that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama.

In Damascus, buildings shook and many people went down to the streets in fear, according to the Associated Press news agency.

There is no information yet on casualties in Lebanon. But the quake jolted residents from their beds, shaking buildings for about 40 seconds. Many residents of Beirut left their homes and took to the streets or drove in their cars away from buildings.

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In the Turkish province of Sanliurfa, at least 15 people were killed and 30 people were injured while at least five people were killed in Osmaniye province.

AFAD 'on alert'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to Twitter to convey get well wishes to citizens affected by the initial earthquake.

He added that AFAD and other units are “on alert.”

He noted that rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the province affected by the earthquake.

"Our Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health, AFAD, provincial governorships and all other institutions started their work rapidly."

"We are also coordinating our work after the earthquake. We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage and we will continue our work."

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also said that six aftershocks with magnitudes above 6.0 were also recorded on Monday.

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The initial quake was followed by magnitude 6.4 and 6.5 quakes that struck southeastern Gaziantep province.

The earthquake came as the Middle East is experiencing a snowstorm that is expected to continue until Thursday.

Türkiye sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes.

In November, a 5.9 earthquake struck Türkiye’s northwestern Duzce province, leaving scores of people injured. The quake was also felt in the country's largest city of Istanbul.

A magnitude-6.8 quake hit Elazig in January 2020, killing more than 40 people.

In 1999, some 18,000 were killed in powerful earthquakes that hit northwest Türkiye.

This is a developing story and will be updated.