Major earthquake in southern Turkey kills many, devastates neighborhoods

Major earthquake in southern Turkey kills many, devastates neighborhoods
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While there are yet no casualty reports from the center of the earthquake, the fatalities in other provinces are at least 76.

A major earthquake of magnitude 7.4 in southern Turkey left many dead and injured as it was felt in an entire region, including parts of Cyprus, Syria and Lebanon.

The earthquake struck early Monday at 4:17 AM local time, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said, and was centered in the Pazarcik district of Maras.

Occurring at a depth of 7 km, it was followed by another with magnitude 6.4 that struck the southeastern province of Antep, which was hit again by a third with a 6.5 magnitude.

The first earthquake was felt in many southeastern provinces including Diyarbakir.

According to preliminary reports, at least 76 people have been killed by the earthquake, and the casualties are likely to increase as officials in Maras have not yet provided information, and there are many people who are under the rubble of the buildings that collapsed.

At least 23 people were killed and 420 injured in the province of Malatya, where 140 buildings have collapsed. At least 18 were killed and 67 injured in Urfa, six killed and 79 injured in Diyarbakir, five killed in Osmaniye.

At least 42 people were killed in Syria.

Turkish authorities scrambled rescue teams and supply aircraft to the region around the city of Maras, while declaring a "level 4 alarm" that calls for international assistance.