UPDATE 3 - Powerful earthquakes kill at least 476 in Syria

UPDATES CASUALTIES; CHANGES DECK; EDITS THROUGH

By Mahmoud Barakat, Omer Koparan, Esref Musa, and Ethem Emre Ozcan

IDLIB, Syria/ANKARA (AA) – At least 476 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Syria after a series of powerful earthquakes centered in southeastern Türkiye jolted the wider region early on Monday, according to figures compiled from the Syrian regime's Health Ministry and Syrian Civil Defense.

The state-run SANA news agency reported, citing the Health Ministry, that at least 326 people were killed and 1,024 others injured, while the Syrian Civil Defense said 150 people were killed and more than 350 others injured in areas under the opposition control in northwestern Syria.

Strong tremors hit Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, and Raqqa regions of Syria, according to the news agency.

The Syrian Civil Defense noted that the death toll is likely to rise as there are hundreds of families remain stuck under the debris of collapsed buildings.

Dozens of buildings were also destroyed or damaged in opposition-held areas in northern Syria, where rescue teams are frantically searching for survivors.

In various areas in northern Syria, at least 58 people have been killed and hundreds injured, according to information compiled by Anadolu from several local sources, including the Syrian Human Rights Network and hospitals.

*Seda Sevencan contributed to this report