6.7 magnitude earthquake destroys houses in Greece and Turkey

Buildings in Izmir, Turkey, were leveled by the earthquake

Credit: Anadolu Agency /Anadolu 

A major 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of western Turkey on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, with initial reports indicating damage to buildings but no immediate casualties.

The USGS said the quake was registered 14 kilometres (8.6 miles) off the Greek town of Neon Karlovasion on the Aegean Sea island of Samos.

Public television in Greece reported a mini-tsunami hit Samos as a result of the quake, causing damage to some buildings.

A map from the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows an intensity shake map of a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that has hit near Neon Karlovasion, Greece

Credit: USGS HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock

The Turkish government’s disaster agency AFAD reported a lower magnitude of 6.6 for the quake, which struck at a depth of 16.5 kilometres.

"So far, we have received information about six collapsed buildings" in Izmir province, which includes the city, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter.

"Some of our fellow citizens are stuck in the rubble," said Environment Minister Murat Kurum, adding that he knew of five collapsed buildings.

The video is showing a small tsunami that hut Samos after the earthquake.

Still waiting for more updates on damages https://t.co/CfjCPrhCoA

— ʏɪᴀɴɴɪs ʙᴀʙᴏᴜʟɪᴀs (@YiannisBab) October 30, 2020

Images on social media showed water rushing through the streets of Izmir from an apparent sea surge.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted that he was ready to help "with all the means available to our state".

İzmirde 6.6 şiddetinde deprem.
Geçmiş olsun İzmir.#deprem #izmir
pic.twitter.com/iSGAqEiBw1

— pia (@yaamannebileyim) October 30, 2020

Turkey is situated in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones.

In 1999, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey’s northwest, killing more than 17,000 people, including 1,000 in Istanbul.

Another quake in 2011 in the southeastern province of Van resulted in more than 600 deaths.

A view of a quake damaged site right after a magnitude 6.6 quake shaking Turkey's Aegean Sea coast

Credit: Anadolu Agency /Anadolu  

The quake was felt on the island of Crete and in the Greek capital of Athens, but there were no immediate reports of victims according to local media.

"The walls of some houses have crumbled and several buildings are damaged," the deputy mayor of Samos, Michalis Mitsios, was quoted as saying by public broadcaster ERT.

The station said people in Samos rushed into the streets after the quake struck.

People stand outside their homes in Izmir

Credit: Ismail Gokmen /AP

"A tsunami cannot be ruled out," said Greek seismologist Efthymis Lekkas.

The observatory had initially given the quake a magnitude of 6.6 but later revised it to 6.7.