An earthquake has killed hundreds of people in Turkey and Syria, officials have confirmed. 

Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake began at 04.17 in the morning local time and centred around the Turkish city of Gaziantep. 

Fuat Oktay, Turkey’s Vice President, has said that 284 deaths have been confirmed so far and Syrian state media have reported over 230 deaths on their side of the border. 

It is expected that number will continue to rise as the day goes on. 

The earthquake collapsed dozens of buildings and while emergency service workers are working to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, strong aftershocks have made it a perilous task.

Main image: An earthquake in Turkey. Picture by: Alamy.com