Turkey-Greece Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake... "Over 20 Dead, Hundreds Injured" (Comprehensive)

Turkey, Damage Concentrated Near Epicenter... Building Collapses Likely to Increase Casualties

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A strong earthquake close to magnitude 7.0 struck Turkey and Greece, resulting in over 20 deaths on the 31st (local time). As buildings collapsed, hundreds remain trapped under the rubble, and the death toll is expected to rise.

According to Turkey's Anadolu Agency and the daily The Guardian, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced that as of the morning of the day, 24 people had died and at least 804 were injured due to the magnitude 6.6 earthquake. Most of the damage occurred in Turkey. Additionally, The Guardian reported two deaths on the Greek island of Samos.

The earthquake occurred around 3 p.m. the previous day in the Aegean Sea between Turkey's western coast and Greece's Samos Island. The epicenter was about 14 km from Nengno Karlovasion on Samos Island, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Nearly 200 aftershocks have been recorded. The USGS reported the earthquake's magnitude as 7.0, while Turkish disaster authorities reported it as 6.6.

Since the epicenter was closer to the Turkish mainland, most of the damage was concentrated in Turkey. In particular, Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, suffered significant damage. With a population of 4.5 million and many high-rise apartment buildings, some urban areas have turned into ruins, AFP reported. Tun? Soyer, mayor of Izmir, told CNN that at least 20 buildings collapsed due to the earthquake and that the death toll is expected to rise.

On Turkey's western coast, a tsunami triggered by the earthquake caused sea levels to rise, flooding some roads and leading to additional damage.

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to offer condolences and promised support. Prime Minister Mitsotakis tweeted, "Putting aside the differences between our two countries, now is the time to overcome this together." President Erdo?an responded on Twitter, saying, "Turkey and Greece, as neighbors, have cooperated firmly in times of difficulty."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.