UPDATE 2 - Powerful earthquakes kill at least 384 in Syria

UPDATES WITH DEATH TOLL IN NW SYRIA; REVISES TITLE; CHANGES DECK; EDITS THROUGH

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

IDLIB, Syria/ANKARA (AA) – At least 384 people have been killed and hundreds others 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 237 people were killed 639 people were injured, while the Syrian Civil Defense said 147 people were killed and more than 340 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.

At least 42 people have died and over 200 others have been injured in areas of Aleppo under the Bashar al-Assad regime’s control, SANA said in an earlier report.

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.