Powerful earthquake kills hundreds in Turkey and Syria

 A magnitude 7.8 earthquake early Monday killed nearly 300 people in 10 towns in southeastern. Turkey and more than 230 in Syria. The toll is rising sharply as rescue teams dig desperately for survivors in hundreds of collapsed buildings. In Syria, the worst hit were Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus provinces where the healthcare system is “overwhelmed” by the injured and some hospitals have been damaged by the quake. A maternity hospital in Afrin was evacuated with at least five deaths.

The tremor was felt in Israel, Lebanon and as far as Cyprus.