Record 2.350 Syrian refugees croos into Turkey in last 24 hours

Some 2,350 Syrians fled across the border to Turkey from the region of Idlib within 24 hours, a Turkish official said on Thursday, more than double the highest previous one-day total.  The refugees all crossed the border close to the Turkish village of Bukulmez, the official said. Villagers on the Turkish side of the border said they could hear the sounds of heavy fighting throughout the day. The numbers fleeing were the highest since March 15 when around 1,000 Syrians entered Turkey in one day. Turkish leaders have said a flood of refugees or massacres of civilians by Syrian troops near its border could force them to act to prevent a humanitarian disaster.  Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that setting up a "safe" or "buffer" zone along the border was among the options his government was considering.