A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and Syria on Monday, causing buildings to collapse and sending residents into the streets on a cold winter night, reported the AP. At least 31 people have been killed and the death toll is expected to rise. The quake was felt as far as Cairo and centered north of Gaziantep, about 60 miles from the Syrian border. The area is home to millions of Syrian refugees who fled their country's civil war. The earthquake also hit opposition-held regions in Syria with a fragile healthcare system, causing significant damage. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dispatched search and rescue teams to the affected areas, while Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu urged people not to enter damaged buildings. The toll is at least 18 dead in Turkey and 13 in Syria. In northwest Syria, the opposition described the situation as "disastrous" with many trapped under collapsed buildings. The earthquake also shook residents in Lebanon, causing buildings to shake for 40 seconds. Turkey is situated on major fault lines and is prone to earthquakes, with 18,000 killed in powerful quakes in 1999.