Tremor measured at 7.8 magnitude was additionally felt in Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus inflicting buildings to break down.

A preliminary magnitude 7.8 earthquake has hit southern Turkey close to the Syrian border, the US Geological Service has stated, and was additionally felt in Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria.

The earthquake struck at 4.17am native time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of about 17.9km (11 miles), the USGS stated.

Turkey’s Catastrophe and Emergency Administration Authority (AFAD) put the magnitude of the quake at 7.4 close to the cities of Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep, near the Syrian border.

USGS reported one other shallow magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurring close to the positioning of the primary tremor about quarter-hour later.

Turkish authorities haven’t but reported any deaths or accidents, however movies posted on social media confirmed destroyed buildings in a number of cities within the southeast of the nation.

Broadcasters TRT and Haberturk confirmed photographs of individuals gathered round wrecked buildings within the city of Kahramanmaras, in search of survivors.

The governor of Turkey’s southeastern province of Sanliurfa province, Salih Ayhan, stated on Twitter, “we have now destroyed buildings” and urged folks to maneuver to secure areas.

Turkey is in one of many world’s most energetic earthquake zones.

Extra to come back…