Sturdy earthquake hits south-eastern Turkey close to Syria border

A robust earthquake has hit Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkey, close to the border with Syria, killing at the least 5 individuals.

The US Geological Survey stated the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 native time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) close to town of Gaziantep.

The quake was felt within the capital Ankara and different Turkish cities, and in addition throughout the broader area.

Various buildings have collapsed, and a few individuals could also be trapped.

A BBC Turkish correspondent in Diyarbakir stories {that a} shopping center within the metropolis collapsed.

Rushdi Abualouf, a BBC producer within the Gaza Strip, stated there was about 45 seconds of shaking in the home he was staying in.

Turkish seismologists estimated the power of the quake to be 7.4 magnitude.

They stated {that a} second tremor hit the area simply minutes later.

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

In 1999, greater than 17,000 individuals have been killed after a robust tremor rocked the north-west of the nation.