[UPDATE] More Than 2,500 Killed: Strong 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Turkey, Syria

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake has hit Turkey and Syria, killing more than 500 people and trapping many others.

The quake struck at 04:17 am local time (01:17 Z) at a depth of about 17.9 kilometers and was followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock 15 minutes later, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Turkey’s AFAD emergencies service center put the first quake’s magnitude at 7.4.

[UPDATE] Earthquakes have claimed over 2,500 lives