LONDON – Turkey earthquake: a major magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck the south east region of Turkey and Syria, causing severe loss of life and structural damage.

According to news source ABC News, over 600 people have died in the major earthquake, with thousands left injured. Several buildings have collapsed in both countries affected.

According to the US geological survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was located approximately 33 km from the major provincial Turkish city of Gaziantep.

Turkey earthquake – possibly largest on record

It is possibly the largest earthquake ever recorded in Turkey, with a similar magnitude 7.8 event previously recorded in December 1939 in the North East region of the country, according to seismologist Stephen Hicks.

Closure of Hatay Airport

The earthquake struck in the early hours of this morning, Monday, 6 February 2023 and was felt as far away as Cairo Egypt according to the ABC News report.

Footage which is beginning to surface on social media shows the severe damage caused to Turkey’s Hatay Airport (HTY) facility, not far from the Gaziantep region.

Video footage clearly shows the extreme cracking across the airport’s runway which has resulted in the suspension of all flight operations.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.