7.8 magnitude earthquake topples buildings in central Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey – A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook southeastern Turkey early Monday and was felt in several provinces and elsewhere in the Middle East. The quake toppled a number of buildings, according to reports.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 20 miles from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital. It was about 26 miles from the town of Nurdagi.

He was born 11 miles deep, according to the US Geological Survey. A strong 6.7 tremor rumbled about 10 minutes later.

Turkey’s disaster and emergency management agency, AFAD, said the quake measured 7.4 and was centered in the town of Pazarcik in Kahramanmaras province.

The earthquake was also felt in Lebanon and Syria.

Syrian state media reported that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and in the central city of Hama.

In rebel-held northwest Syria, which borders Turkey, several buildings have collapsed, according to the opposition Syrian Civil Defense.

There was no word on the casualties.

The earthquake rocked residents of Lebanon from their beds, shaking buildings for about 40 seconds. Many Beirut residents left their homes and took to the streets or drove their cars away from buildings.

Turkey sits atop major fault lines and is frequently rocked by earthquakes.

Some 18,000 people were killed in powerful earthquakes that struck northwestern Turkey in 1999.