At least 3,500 people are dead after two earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5, along with subsequent aftershocks, struck Turkey and Syria. Citizens of Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Lebanon were able to feel the sheer force of the quakes. Monday evening's death count, expected to rise, is the largest toll recorded in seismic activity since a 2016 Ecuador quake estimated to have killed 676 people.

Yuksel Akalan, an onscene reporter for MSNBC, described the after shocks to Reuters. He said, “As we were heading to the rubble to (film) search and rescue efforts, there were two consecutive aftershocks with a loud noise, and the building you are seeing on my left was brought down to earth. There was a lot of dust.”

Khalil Ashawi, a photojournalist based in Syria,