A significant 7.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the Aegean Sea on Friday, killing not less than 19 folks throughout Turkey and Greece as buildings crashed down and tidal waves slammed islands and coastal areas.

Within the western Turkish metropolis of Izmir, residents ran on to the streets in panic as clouds of mud erupted from the rubble.

Search and rescue operations had been beneath method at 17 collapsed or broken buildings within the metropolis, and authorities arrange tents close to areas with the best harm.

The district of Seferihisar was struck by a small tsunami that despatched seawater inland, flooding streets and abandoning particles and fish.

Movies on social media confirmed fridges, chairs and tables floating previous stranded vehicles.

On the Greek vacation island of Samos, two youngsters, a boy and a lady, had been discovered useless in an space the place a wall had collapsed.

Islanders had been urged to steer clear of coastal areas.

“It was a really huge earthquake, it’s tough to have an even bigger one,” Eftyhmios Lekkas, head of Greece’s organisation for anti-seismic planning, advised Skai TV.

“We now have by no means skilled something prefer it,” mentioned George Dionysiou, an area mayor. “Individuals are panicking.”

Turkey’s Catastrophe and Emergency Administration Presidency (AFAD) mentioned not less than 709 folks had been injured.

Ilke Cide, a doctoral pupil who was in Izmir’s Guzelbahce area in the course of the earthquake, mentioned he went inland after waters rose.

“I’m very used to earthquakes… so I didn’t take it very significantly at first however this time it was actually scary,” he mentioned, including the earthquake had lasted for not less than 25-30 seconds.

Turkey and Greece are among the many most earthquake-prone nations on the earth.

Greater than 17,000 had been killed in August 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Izmit, southeast of Istanbul.

In a uncommon present of solidarity after months of territorial disputes, Greek and Turkish authorities officers issued mutual messages of help.

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mentioned he had referred to as Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to supply “condolences”.

“No matter our variations, these are instances when our folks want to face collectively,” he mentioned.

Erdogan responded to the tweet together with his thanks and supplied his condolences.

“Turkey, too, is all the time prepared to assist Greece heal its wounds. That two neighbours present solidarity in tough instances is extra useful than many issues in life,” he wrote.

The earthquake struck at 2:51 pm native time (11.51am GMT) northeast of Samos.

It was felt throughout the jap Greek islands and so far as the Greek capital, Athens, and in Bulgaria. In Turkey, it shook the areas of Aegean and Marmara, together with Istanbul. Istanbul’s governor mentioned there have been no stories of injury there.

Greek seismologist Akis Tselentis advised Greek state broadcaster ERT that probably highly effective aftershocks might be anticipated for a number of weeks and warned that buildings may collapse.

In Turkey, greater than 2,000 rescue personnel had been despatched to Izmir, in addition to aid provides. The Turkish Purple Crescent arrange kitchens.

Extra reporting by Reuters and Related Press

Learn extra

Turkish survivors of the earthquake now fear concerning the aftermath

Giant earthquake off Alaska prompts tsunami fears, fleeing

Iceland’s prime minister caught in earthquake throughout reside broadcast

Papua New Guinea hit by 6.3-magnitude earthquake