Earthquake In Turkey, Greece Claims About 22 Lives With Nearly 800 Injuries; 196 Aftershocks Reported
Ankara: Turkey is reeling under the impact of an earthquake that shocked the country on Friday as tremors of a magnitude of 7 on the Richter Scale hit the Aegean Sea, leading to massive loss of life and property.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency has earlier informed that the death toll reached 17, with 709 injured. As per news agency AFP, the disaster relief agency last reported 20 deaths and nearly 800 injuries, while in Greece two teenagers died while on their way home from school on Samos when a wall collapsed.
The quake was felt across the eastern Greek islands and even in the Greek capital Athens. Greek media said the residents of Samos and other islands fled their homes, while some rockfalls were reported.
As per Turkey’s media reports, about 196 aftershocks were felt in the country with 23 even hitting over the magnitude of 4 following the major earthquake.
In a televised speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said search and rescue operations are continuing in the ruins of 17 buildings.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s presidential office said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Turkish president spoke over the phone after the earthquake, which also affected Greece.
“Erdogan and Mitsotakis exchanged wishes for a speedy recovery,” the presidency announced in a written statement. (Agencies)
