New Delhi: A powerful earthquake in Turkey and Greece killed at least 22 people on Friday. As many as 196 aftershocks were felt with 23 hitting over magnitude 4.0, Turkish media was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
As per the US Geological Survey, the powerful earthquake hit 14 kilometres (nine miles) off the Greek town of Karlovasi on Samos. Rescue and search operations are going on at the Aegean resort city of Izmir in Turkey. The city suffered most of the damages.
The earthquake resulted in a small tsunami that struck the Seferihisar district south of Izmir province and caused floods in the area. One died of drowning, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the WHO was “closely following” the situation in Greece and Turkey following the earthquake.
“We will work with the two countries to ensure that emergency medical care is provided for those in need. Our thoughts are with all those affected,” Tedros was quoted.