An explosion hit a gas pipeline in Türkiye’s southern province of Hatay after two strong earthquakes jolted the country early Monday, Ihlas News Agency reported.

Türkiye’s state-owned energy company, BOTAS, announced that it had suspended natural gas flow to southern Gaziantep, Hatay and Kahramanmaras provinces.

Vice-President Fuat Oktay said that more than 280 people died in Türkiye after two earthquakes struck the country’s southern and southeastern regions.

A 7.4 magnitude quake struck the Pazarcik District of southern Kahramanmaras Province at 04:17 (0117 GMT).

A magnitude of 6.4 quake followed, which hit southern Gaziantep Province at 04:26 (0126 GMT).

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, the focus of the quake was located at a depth of seven kilometre.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters, “We dispatched all our search and rescue teams to earthquake zones. We set the highest alert.”

The minister said the quakes caused casualties in at least 10 provinces.

“We have set up a fourth-level alert. This is an alarm that includes international assistance,” Mr Spyle added.

(Xinhua/NAN)