A MASSIVE explosion has reportedly ripped through a major gas pipeline as Turkey battles the devastation from a huge 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Turkey's state-owned energy company BOTAS confirmed natural gas flows have been suspended in the fallout from the huge tremor that has killed more than 1,000 people.
Terrifying footage widely shared on social media reportedly shows the horrifying scene of the massive pipeline rupture.
Flames can be rising into the sky, lighting up the darkness after the quake which struck at around 4am before dawn.
The ominous glow illuminated the smoke-filled airspace as two sections of the pipeline, around three kilometres from each other, were ablaze.
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Estimates say the tower of flame was around 100ft high.
Multiple videos appear to show the same incident in Kahramanmaraş, reports Rudaw.
Gas flows have been suspended in the region after the explosion, according to BOTAS.
Oil pipelines going through Turkey are reported to have not been affected by the quake.
BOTAS is working to carry out inspections on all damaged gas infrastructure.
"Necessary works are being done in coordination with natural gas distribution companies in the region so that the flow of gas can be done safely for our citizens," the firm said.
It comes as the nation was rocked by a second massive earthquake and repeated aftershocks as search and rescue efforts got underway.
It was hit by a quake almost as big as the first, registering at 7.5 and a depth of just five miles.
Experts had already warned the death toll - which is already at more than 1,000 - could hit as high as 10,000.
The enormous tremor- the biggest to hit the country in 100 years - also caused devastation in neighbouring Syria.
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The record-setting tremor was felt on the island of Cyprus and as far away as Egypt and.
A second tremor of 7.8 also struck just hours later as rescue workers desperately searched for survivors in the rubble.
Striking just before dawn, the epicenter was near the town of Nurdagi, Turkey.
The ground began to shake as many people were still unsleep in their beds and unable to flee.
Up to 78 aftershocks followed that stretched to daylight hours with the strongest measuring 6.6.
Harrowing images showed collapsed buildings in multiple cities and many hundreds have been injured.
Buildings were reported collapsed across a 200 mile swath of cities from Diyarbakir in Turkey to Aleppo and Hama in Syria.
Some of the heaviest devastation occurred near the quake's epicentre between Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep, where entire city blocks lay in ruins under the gathering snow.
Gaziantep Castle, which was built more than 2,200 years ago, collapsed during the earthquake.
As dawn broke desperate rescue operations were underway in a bid to free those trapped under the rubble.
Turkey has declared a state of emergency and help is being pledged from around the world.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be under intense pressure to oversee an effective response to the disaster heading to a tightly-contested May 14 election.
"We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage," the Turkish leader tweeted.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted; "My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake.
"The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can."
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington was "profoundly concerned".
"We stand ready to provide any and all needed assistance," Sullivan said.
Additional offers of help poured in from the European Union, Russia, Italy and Turkey's historic rival Greece, whose relations with Ankara have suffered from a spate of border and cultural disputes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also offered to provide "the necessary assistance" to Turkey, whose combat drones are helping Kyiv fight the Russian invasion.
