At least 90 people killed by powerful earthquake near Turkey-Syria border

Syria’s state media said that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama.

“Forty-two deaths and 200 injuries have been reported in Aleppo, Hama and Latakia as a result of the earthquake in a preliminary toll,” state news agency SANA said quoting a health ministry official.

Turkey’s preliminary death toll included 23 in Malatya province, 17 in Sanliurfa, six in Diyarbakir and five more in Osmaniye. 

Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes.

The US Geological Survey said the 7.8-magnitude quake was centered outside of Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital in Turkey. It was followed by a 6.7 after shock about 10 minutes later.

The Survey had listed four subsequent tremors, of up to 5.6 magnitude. 

Several buildings tumbled down in the neighboring provinces of Malatya, Diyarbakir and Malatya, HaberTurk television reported. 

The latest quake was also felt in Lebanon and Iraq.

In Beirut and Damascus, buildings shook and many people went down to the streets in fear.

Footage shared by people in Iraq showed hundreds of residents, many dressed in their pyjamas, and gathered in the dark outside apartment buildings as they awaited news on whether it was safe to return indoors.