Earthquake struck Turkey’s western coast

 A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has hit Seferihisar, a coastal town in the western province of Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. The tremors emanated from the Aegean Sea at a 16.5 kilometres (10 miles) depth and felt across the Greek islands, Izmir and as far as Istanbul in the north.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has hit Seferihisar, a coastal town in the western province of Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. The tremors emanated from the Aegean Sea at a 16.5 kilometres (10 miles) depth and felt across the Greek islands, Izmir and as far as Istanbul in the north.

Six people are said to have died with more than 200 injured, as at the time of this report. Most inhabitants have been thrown into panic as the strong quake drove masses into the streets.

Turkey has in the past and as recently as last January experienced major earthquakes that have claimed thousands of lives. Some buildings have been reported to have collapsed and the count is still on as current figures hover around 20.

The government has mobilized all respective institutions and personnel to rescue the situation with urgency and diligence. People have been pulled out alive from the rubble, however injured.

People have been warned by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) to stay away from their homes in light of visibly damaged buildings.
A secondary earthquake is likely to occur and could cause more collapse to already damaged buildings.

According to Boğaziçi University’s Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, “ the secondary earthquake could be up to 5.8 magnitudes and a strong tremor might knock down already damaged buildings”, Doğan Kalafat the Kandilli Observatory Manager noted.

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Credit: Eric Osei, DNT Correspondent, Istanbul, Turkey