More than 300 people were killed in Syria and Turkey in a strong earthquake near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep early this morning.

The Syrian Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of at least 237 people in areas controlled by President Bashar al-Assad. The number of injured reached 639. The death toll is expected to continue to rise.

Scary footage of the earthquake in Turkey tonight.
pic.twitter.com/NweJRwrnhn

- Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) -

At least 20 people have been killed in Syria's rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib. Many of the buildings in the areas affected by the earthquake suffered damage during the conflict that erupted nearly 12 years ago in Syria.

BREAKING: Powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes southern Turkey, injuring multiple people; multiple fatalities expected.pic.twitter.com/qu8jwgvaIZ

— Dredre Babb (@DredreBabb) -

Trains in the northern part of the country have been stopped as a precaution.

In Turkey, according to the latest data from the authorities, at least 76 people died, and 440 people were injured.

Multiple apartment buildings have collapsed after a powerful earthquake in southern Turkey pic.twitter.com/wydrBj94RL

- BNO News (@BNONews) -

The strong earthquake, which according to the US Geological Survey had a magnitude of 7,8 on the Richter scale, occurred today at 04:17 local time near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the border with Syria, at a depth of about 18 kilometers, DPA reported.

Ten minutes later, a strong aftershock followed with a magnitude of 6,7 at a depth of 9 kilometers. At least 20 consecutive earthquakes have been recorded.