Death toll in major earthquake in Turkey and Greece hits 26

The death toll in the powerful earthquake that levelled buildings across Greece and Turkey has risen to 26.

 

The quake struck late Friday afternoon, causing a mini-tsunami on the Aegean island of Samos and a sea surge that turned streets into rushing rivers in a town on Turkey's west coast.

 

The US Geological Survey said the 7.0 magnitude tremor hit 14 kilometres (nine miles) off the Greek town of Karlovasi on Samos. 

 

Felt in both Istanbul and Athens, it also created a diplomatic opening for the two historic rivals, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placing a rare call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer his condolences and support.

 

Much of the damage occurred in and around Turkey's Aegean resort city of Izmir, which has three million residents and is filled with high-rise apartment blocks.

 

Parts of entire apartments, including toys, pillows and shattered appliances, spilled out on the streets, where survivors huddled in tears, many too shocked to speak.

 

Aerial footage showed entire city blocks turned to rubble.

Multiple reports say 20 buildings had collapsed, with officials focussing their rescue efforts on 17 of them.

 

Turkey's disaster relief agency reported 24 deaths and 800 injuries, while in Greece two teenagers died on their way home from school on Samos when a wall collapsed.

 

The scenes of devastation suggested the toll could rise.

 

Rescuers, helped by residents and sniffer dogs, used chainsaws to try to force their way through the rubble of one destroyed seven-floor building.

 

The region's governor said 70 people had been pulled out alive by Friday evening, although how many more were missing remained unknown by sunset.

 

Greece and Turkey are situated in one of the world's most active earthquake zones.

 

The two neighbours also suffer from historically poor relations despite both being members of the NATO military alliance.

Death toll in major earthquake in Turkey and Greece hits 26 https://t.co/ENnQleaVaF pic.twitter.com/gEerUXwRyI

— Hotunz Blog (@HotunzBlog) October 31, 2020