The US Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, reports BBC.

Tremors were felt in the country capital Ankara and other cities.

According to reports, a large number of buildings were destroyed.

Several people are still feared to be trapped under debris.

BBC Turkish correspondent in Diyarbakir reported that a shopping mall in the city collapsed.

Rushdi Abualouf, a BBC producer in the Gaza Strip, told the British media there was about 45 seconds of shaking in the house he was staying in.

Incidentally, Turkey falls in one of the most active earthquake zones in the world.