The castle was leveled after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,000 people.
The dome and eastern wall of the historical Şirvani Mosque, located next to the castle and believed to have been built in the 17th century, have also partially collapsed, according to Anadolu Agency.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in Turkey as the country sits on top of a series of major fault lines. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake is equivalent to the release of just over 500 megatons of TNT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Photo of Gaziantep Castle, a structure that has stood in southeastern Turkey for over 2,000 years and partially collapsed in the recent earthquake.
The quake was centered around 20 miles from Gaziantep at a depth of about 11 miles. The primary quake was followed by a series of at least 20 —smaller earthquakes that represent minor readjustments along fault lines after the initial main shock—which are also believed to have caused significant damage, the extent of which is yet to be determined.
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