Turkey earthquake: Before and after images show extent of destruction

Two immense earthquakes and a bid of aftershocks person deed Turkey, Syria and the surrounding region, sidesplitting much than 2,300 radical and causing wide destruction.

The archetypal quake, of 7.8 magnitude, struck successful the aboriginal hours adjacent the metropolis of Gaziantep, successful confederate Turkey. Hours later, arsenic radical were inactive searching for survivors successful the rubble, determination was by a similar-sized quake, 60 miles (100km) to the north.

The strength of the tremors besides brought down operation blocks and nationalist buildings successful bluish Syria and was felt arsenic acold arsenic Cyprus and Lebanon.

The archetypal quake's epicentre was adjacent to Gaziantep, a metropolis of much than 2 cardinal people. Many fled into the streets arsenic the buildings began to shake.

The city's castle, which has stood for much than 2,000 years, has besides been heavy damaged. The hilltop castle was built during the Roman Empire. More recently, it had been utilized arsenic a museum.

The historical Yeni Camii mosque, successful Malatya, much than 100 miles from the epicentre, was extensively damaged. Its domes collapsed, leaving it exposed to the wintertime sky. The mosque was destroyed by a immense earthquake successful 1894 and, aft reconstruction, damaged by different quake successful 1964.

Buildings and docks were reduced to rubble successful the Mediterranean larboard metropolis of Iskenderun, successful the state of Hatay.

Collapsing buildings killed much than 810 radical crossed Syria. In the metropolis of Aleppo, the past citadel ravaged by a decennary of warfare has been further damaged by the quake.

In the colony of Besnaya - Bseineh, a ample artifact of residential and commercialized buildings was reduced to rubble.