Image Source: The Times of Israel

Agencies:

26 killed & over 800 injured as strong earthquake hits Turkey, Greek islands

New Delhi
October 31, 2020

A strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos on Friday, killing at least 26 people and injuring over 800 amid collapsed buildings and flooding, an official saying.

According to Reuters, a witness said that people ran onto streets in panic in the Turkish city of Izmir, witnesses said, after the quake struck with a magnitude of upto 7.0
A small tsunami also struck the Seferihisar district South of Izmir.

Neighbourhoods were deluged with surging seawater which swept debris inland and left fish stranded as it receded.

At least 24 people were killed in Izmir, including an elderly woman who drowned, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.

On the Greek island of Samos two teenagers, a boy and a girl, were found dead in an area where a wall had collapsed. Among the dead were the wife and two children of the Secretary-General of the Turkish Medical Association's Izmir branch, news reported.

More than 3,000 rescue personnel were sent to Izmir, as well as relief supplies.
Former US Vice-President Joe Biden also tweeted: "Jill and I send our prayers to the people of Greece and Turkey following today�s earthquake. We�re grateful for the brave rescuers saving others and for the governments of Greece and Turkey putting aside their differences to support each other."