Reuters
A massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake and a string of aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.6, have killed hundreds of people and caused catastrophic damage when the first tremor struck in the dead of night in south-east Turkey and Syria early Monday. At least 640 people were killed, according to the Associated Press. Hundreds more were injured and the toll will likely continue to rise. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the death toll could reach 10,000, with a 20 percent chance it could reach 100,000.
The earthquake set off a string of tsunami warnings across the Mediterranean, from Greece to Italy, where people have been warned to stay away from coastal areas Monday morning.
The USGS said the quake struck 14 miles east of the Turkish district of Nurdağı, near the northern border of Syria, and was followed 11 minutes later by a magnitude 6.6 aftershock. It was 11 miles deep.