Greek authorities continue to wade through rubble Friday following a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast.
July 21 (UPI) — Greek authorities continue to wade through rubble Friday following a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast.
The quake hit popular resort areas near several Greek islands and Turkey’s Aegean coast, killing at least two people and injuring more than 350 others.
Kos, a Greek island popular with tourists, was hardest-hit by the quake. Both of the confirmed deaths happened there, and at least 120 people were injured, according to The Guardian.
The quake struck at 1: 31 a.m. Friday at a depth of about 5 miles, Greece’s Disaster and Management Authority said. About 40 aftershocks were later felt.
The earthquake, however, appears to have caused only minor structural damage on Kos.
«The rest of the island has no problem. It’s only the main town that has a problem, » Kos Mayor Giorgos Kyritsis told state-run Greek media. «The buildings affected were mostly old, and were built before the earthquake building codes were introduced.»
«The EU offers its full support to help. The Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, which monitors natural disasters 24/7, is closely following developments and stands ready to coordinate any assistance requested, » said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides in a statement.
«We were literally shaken out of our beds from deep sleep, » said Tom Riesack, a German tourist staying in Kos with his family . «The whole room was shaking and we fled the room into the open. Thankfully, I am staying in a newer hotel that has been built ‘earthquake safe.'»
A Twitter user in Bodrum tweeted a video of people running outside when the earthquake hit.
In Turkey, about six miles south of Bodrum, at least 70 people were injured. A small tsunami caused by the earthquake damaged boats and vehicles in Turkey’s Mugla district. Water flooded beachfront hotels and hundreds gathered in the street for safety.
Greece is a EU member; Turkey is not.
The Euro-Med Seismological Center confirmed the tsunami and warned people to avoid Turkish beaches.
