Just In; 12 people were confirmed dead in western Turkey after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of the Aegean Sea on Friday(today) afternoon, sending houses and buildings crumbling down.
As per the US Geological Survey (USGS), The 7.0 magnitude earthquake was centered off Turkey’s Izmir province and was felt as far away as Athens and Istanbul. It occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers but had the power to trigger a mini-tsunami that flooded Izmir and the Greek island Samos.
In Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city with a population of nearly three million, many people were seen running out into the streets in panic and fear after the quake struck. At least 20 buildings collapsed.
Videos have been posted on social media appearing showing the moment one multi-story building went down, There were reports of flooding in the city after the sea level rose, and some fishermen are said to have gone missing.
“It was a really strong shaker almost enough to knock you off your feet. Running out of the house with my children was like a drunken wobble,” Chris Bedford, a retired British teacher who lives in Urla, west of Izmir, told the BBC news.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government would help those affected by the quake “with all the means available to our state”.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he called President Erdogan “to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries”.
“Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together,” Mr. Mitsotakis tweeted.
In Greece, two youngsters were killed when a wall collapsed on Samos. At least eight people were injured across the Greek island.
“We felt it very strongly,” local journalist Manos Stefanakis told News.
He added that it was the biggest tremor to hit the island since 1904.
People of the city were advised to stay outdoors and keep away from coastal areas due to aftershocks and tsunami fears.
