More than 1,400 people have been killed as a result of the earthquake that struck central Turkey and northwestern Syria. Experts have described it as one of the most powerful earthquakes in the region in at least a century. A second strong tremor was felt 12 hours later from the first earthquake.
Follow below the summary with the current situation:
- The official death toll from the first earthquake in Turkey and Syria has now risen to over 1,400. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described it as the country's worst disaster since 1939. More than 5,300 people were reported injured.
- The first earthquake hit the country at around 4 am, while people were sleeping, and measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, one of the most powerful earthquakes in the region in at least a century.
- The Turkish president announced that 9,000 people have been involved in rescue operations. 2,818 buildings have collapsed.
- The second earthquake hit Turkey and Syria less than 12 hours after the first. State media in Syria have said Damascus has been hit by the latest major earthquake, although details remain scant.
- The European Union has mobilized more than 10 search and rescue teams to help Turkey.
- The Italian authorities warned of a tsunami on the southern coast of the country. Italy's Civil Protection Department has recommended people in coastal areas to move to higher ground.
- The Turkish Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, said that 10 cities were affected by the earthquake; the cities of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Osmaniye, Ad?yaman, Malatya, Sanl?urfa, Adana, Dijarbakir and Kilis have all suffered damage.
