A major 6.6-magnitude earthquake has rattled Greece’s Dodecanese Islands, the US Geological Survey (USGC) has said, with the tremor felt miles away in the capital of Athens.
Initial estimates by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put the magnitude of the earthquake, which struck north of the eastern island of Samos at around 11:50 GMT, at 6.7.
There were no immediate reports of casualties on Friday but video footage on social media showed buildings in the Turkish city of İzmir had been seriously damaged.
Videos also showed flooded streets in the city, apparently caused by a small tsunami following the earthquake.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said the earthquake was centered in the Aegean Sea at a depth of 16.5 kilometres (10.3 miles).
Local media added that the tremor was felt across the regions of Aegean and Marmara, where Istanbul is located.
Meanwhile, Greek media said residents of Samos and other islands fled their homes, while some rockfalls were reported.
Residents of Samos, which has a population of about 45,000 people, have been urged to stay away from coastal areas, Eftyhmios Lekkas, head of Greece’s organisation for anti-seismic planning, told the country’s Skai TV.
“It was a very big earthquake, it’s difficult to have a bigger one,” Mr Lekkas said. ( Skai TV )
