Shallow 6.7 Earthquake Rocks Resorts on Turkish Coast and Greek Island of Kos Accompanied by Small Tsumani
A large earthquake has been reported off the Turkish coast and the Greek Islands in an area popular with British Tourist.
Video Added from #Bodrum#Tsunami #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/3bR5tHnieg
— Global News (@GlobalZarfati) July 20, 2017
The US Geological Survey recorded a 6.7 magnitude quake off the south west coast close to the resort town of Bodrum and the Greek Island of Kos. A Foreign Office spokesman said it was seeking further information.
MORE: Strong earthquake hits near Bodrum in southwest Turkey, also felt in Greece https://t.co/rpOMWsLmsr pic.twitter.com/qRONKWNIT9
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 20, 2017
It had initially been estimated that the quake had reached a magnitude of 6.9, but the USGS downgraded its original calculation.
According to the USGS the quake was shallow and 6.2 miles below the seabed.
#Rhodes #Greece just felt a significant earthquake. No visible damage our casualties at our hotel. Replica tombe expected ?
— Cedric Janssens (@cedricjanssens) July 20, 2017
Just experienced my first earthquake. Am shook. #nopunintended #rhodes
— john lennon (@TabascoTweets) July 20, 2017
The region is prone to quakes, but the impact may have been dampened by the sea. There was also a report of a small tsunami from the European quake agency EMSC .
However Turkish officials said large waves were more likely than a tsunami.
“A small tsunami is confirmed. AVOID BEACHES IN THE AREA, but you are safe on higher grounds,” EMSC said on Twitter.
A small tsunami is confirmed. AVOID BEACHES IN THE AREA, but you are safe on higher grounds
— EMSC (@LastQuake) July 20, 2017
Second image from tsunami this time 90km from the epicentre of M6.7 #earthquake pic.twitter.com/kHGCS2OzML
— EMSC (@LastQuake) July 20, 2017
It is unclear how much damage the quake has done. Tourists turned to Twitter to describe the hotels being shaken.
One Twitter user wrote “Earthquake is Kos, absolute mental, never felt anything like it.”
Esengul Civelek, the governor of Mugla, said initial reports showed there were no major damages and disruptions. She said a small number of people had suffered minor injuries.
Earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hits west of Turkey and the tsunami was felt, many hotels are flooded: https://t.co/ZUtq0BRcL4 pic.twitter.com/OY3TT1bPX8
— Washington Hattı (@WasHatti) July 20, 2017
Mugla Mayor Osman Gurun said power outages affected certain parts of the province and that telephone operators experienced shortages due to overloads. Bodrum Mayor Mehmet Kocadon said the earthquake had caused minor cracks on some old buildings.
Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that aftershocks were being felt in the region, with a 4.6 magnitude aftershock hitting at 1:52 a.m. (2252 GMT on Thursday).
David Millward and Reuters
Telegraph UK
