The strongest earthquake of the last century/ The number of victims exceeds 500 in Turkey and Syria, about 3 thousand injured

More than 500 people have been killed in two countries after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey this morning.

At least 284 people have died and more than 2,300 have been injured in Turkey, according to the country's Vice President Fuat Oktay.

In Syria, at least 237 people were killed and 639 wounded, Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing a Health Ministry official.

The total death toll in Turkey and Syria is now at least 521.

The earthquake is one of the strongest to hit Turkey in more than 100 years and sent tremors across the region, collapsing buildings and sending residents running into the streets.

More than 1,700 buildings were damaged in 10 Turkish cities, the Turkish vice president said.