At least 5 dead as 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit in Gaziantep in southeast Turkey on Monday and caused at least five deaths, according to the US Geological Service.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 17.9 kilometres at 04:17 local time (0117 GMT) (11 miles).

The quake's magnitude was 7.4 according to AFAD, the government's disaster management organisation.

About 15 minutes later, the USGS reported a second shallow 6.7-magnitude earthquake that had also occurred nearby.

Syria is bordered by the southern district of Gaziantep, one of Turkey's major centres for manufacturing and industry. According to AFP correspondents, Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus also felt the shocks.

Although no death or injuries have yet been recorded by Turkish officials, videos released on social media show devastated structures in various southeast European cities.

Geography of Turkey

Turkey is situated in one of the seismic activity areas of the planet. One of the areas affected by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Duzce in 1999 was Turkey's deadliest in decades.

Over 17,000 people died in that earthquake, including about 1,000 in Istanbul.

Experts have long warned that Istanbul, which has allowed massive building without safety safeguards, may be completely destroyed by a huge earthquake.

In January 2020, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Elazig, killing around 40 people. And in October of that same year, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck the Aegean Sea claimed 114 lives and injured over 1,000 more.

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