UPI By Darryl Coote
A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey early Monday, killing dozens in the country and nearby Syria, with the death toll expected rise as first responders continue to scourer the debris of collapsed buildings for survivors.
The temblor hit at 4:17 a.m. local time near the city of Gaziantep and Turkey’s southern border with Syria, the U.S. Geological Survey said, warning “high casualties and extensive damage are probably and the disaster is likely widespread.”
The initial strike was followed by more than 40 aftershocks, with the USGS rating the most powerful at a magnitude of 6.7.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said that as of 6:30 a.m., there have been 76 deaths and 440 people injured in 10 provinces. Syria’s civil defense organization said at least 147 people were dead and more than 340 were injured.
