A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Friday, leaving a devastating wake of destruction in its path. The death toll has already risen to 38, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that it could increase eight-fold.

The earthquake was felt in several countries across the region, including Lebanon, Israel and Iraq. In Turkey, the worst affected area was the eastern province of Elazig, where the epicenter of the quake was located. In Syria, the quake caused severe damage to the city of Aleppo.

Live footage of the quake showed buildings shaking and people fleeing for safety in their pajamas. In one emotional story, a doctor and his family were seen rushing to safety on the snowy streets.

The WHO has already dispatched a team of experts to the region to assess the damage and provide medical assistance to those affected. In the meantime, the Turkish government has launched a massive relief effort to help those who have been displaced by the disaster.

This is a developing story. View Full Coverage on USNN for the latest updates.