More than 1,500 killed as powerful quakes rock Turkey and Syria

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey Monday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, mere hours after a temblor killed more than 1,500 people in the Turkish and Syrian parts of the region. That one was followed by at least 20 aftershocks.

The earlier quake, a magnitude 7.8, hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. In addition to the dead, thousands were injured and a frantic search was underway for survivors trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll in his nation from the first quake had skyrocketed to 912.

Syria’s health ministry said more than 370 were killed in government-held parts of the country. The White Helmets rescue group said at least 221 were killed in rebel-held areas.

It struck before dawn on a rainy, snowy night and was felt as far away as Cairo, Cyprus, Lebanon and — Greenland.

The quakes shook a region torn by the civil war in Syria, which has lasted more than a decade.

The area affected in Syria is divided between government and opposition forces. Turkey hosts millions of refugees from the war.

Many nations immediately offered assistance, including the United States, Germany, France, Greece and Ukraine.