A strong magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck in the Aegean Sea that left at least 19 people dead Friday (local time) in Turkey and Greece and flattened around 20 buildings in coastal Turkey. The large shake sent a surge of seawater flooding streets of Izmir and Samos.
Turkey put the magnitude lower, at 6.6 following the magnitude 7.0.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake was felt as far away as Athens and Istanbul and struck at a depth of 10km.
Image: CC/ shutterstock.com
Turkey and Greece both sit on earthquake-prone fault lines and earthquakes are common.
20 people are dead, and more than 786 people are injured in Turkey, according to the disaster management agency of Turkey.
Image: CC/ SUPPLIED
In Greece, on Samos, two teenagers were killed when a wall collapsed. Eight people were injured across the island.
A mini-tsunami flooded the port of Samos, and several buildings were damaged in the process.
Some fishermen are reported to be missing after there were reports of flooding in the city after the sea level rose.
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Residents were urged by authorities and officials to stay outdoors and keep away from coastal areas. About 45,000 people live on Samos.
One of the 20 confirmed victims had drowned.
Many people were seen running out into the streets in panic and fear after the quake struck.
Image: CC/ shutterstock.com
20 structures, including apartment buildings in Izmir, have collapsed.
Rescue crews and volunteers are working to further look for any survivors in the downed rubble of the buildings.
Authorities in Izmir, the rural capital, have set up a tent area to house about 2,000 people overnight, amid fears that more buildings could collapse.
Image: CC/ Reuters
Authorities said that 70 people had been rescued from under the rubble.
Image: CC/ Anadolu Agency
Rescuers continued to dig through concrete blocks after dark, hoping to find more survivors.
Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city with a population of nearing three million.
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
I offer my condolences to all of Greece on behalf of myself and the Turkish people. Turkey, too, is always ready to help Greece heal its wounds.
That two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life. https://t.co/eo6iClofKZ
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 30, 2020
In a tweet, the Turkish president offered his condolences to Greece and said: “that two neighbours show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life.”
“Turkey, too, is always ready to help Greece heal its wounds,” Erdogan added.
Erdogan and both Turkey and Greece were ready to send aid to the other.
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