Many dead as powerful earthquake shakes Turkey, Syria

Rescuers search for victims of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey, levelling buildings across several cities and causing damages in neighbouring Syria [Mahmut Bozarslan/ AFP]

By Zaheena Rasheed

Many casualties are feared after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake knocked down multiple buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria.
At least 15 deaths were reported in Turkey, while another 11 people died in Syria.

11 killed in Syria: AP
A doctor in the Syria’s Atmed told The Associated Press news agency that at least 11 people have died in the northwestern town alone.

Dr Muheeb Qaddour added that many others were buried under the rubble.

“We fear that the deaths are in the hundreds,” he told AP.

Death toll in Turkey rises to 15: Reports
Local officials say 15 people have died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey, according to the AFP news agency.

Five of the deaths were reported in the province of Osmaniye, the agency said, and 10 more in Sanliurfa, which sits near Turkey’s border with Syria.

Disastrous’ situation reported in northwest Syria
The opposition Syrian Civil Defense is describing the situation in rebel-held northwestern Syria as “disastrous”.

The civil defense said entire buildings have collapsed and people are trapped under the rubble.

It urged people to evacuate buildings to gather in open areas.

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