'My anxiety is insane'

Survivors of the earthquake in Syria described scenes and feelings of horror in the aftermath of the first shock. 

"I woke up from being shaken off my bed, and everyone got evacuated out," a resident of Latakia told told Middle East Eye's Ayah El-Khaldi.

In Syria, the initial quake struck the provinces of Idlib, Aleppo, Latakia, Tartus and Hama. The aftershocks hit the capital Damascus. 

"It’s been almost two hours now and I still haven't calmed down. I feel as if I am walking on a sponge and my anxiety is insane," a resident of Damascus told MEE.

"When I managed to speak to my children I burst into tears."

Syrian health officials and volunteer rescue workers said 783 have been killed and more than 2,000 injured as rescue efforts continue. 

Former national team footballer Nader Joukhadar and his son Taaj were among those who died in Jableh city, the Syrian Football Association said.