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Earthquake strikes in Aegean Sea off coast of Turkey, Greece

What we know so far

  • A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Aegean Sea off Greece and Turkey on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
  • At least 14 people have died in total across Turkey and Greece.
  • The city of Izmir in Turkey was badly hit, and there are reports of at least 20 buildings destroyed.
  • The earthquake also caused damage on the Greek island of Samos in the Aegean sea.

4:49 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Here's what we know so far about the earthquake

Rescue workers and local people try to save residents trapped in the debris of a collapsed building, in Izmir, Turkey, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.  Ismail Gokmen/AP

At least fourteen people have died across Turkey and Greece after an earthquake struck the Aegean Sea near both countries. Here's what we know so far:

The earthquake: The 7.0-magnitude earthquake sent buildings crashing down and triggered what authorities called a "mini tsunami."

In Turkey, at least 20 buildings in the city of Izmir were destroyed. Images showed vehicles crushed under the buildings and people digging through the rubble in search of survivors.

More than a 100 aftershocks were recorded in Turkey, say officials, and search and rescue operations continue in 17 buildings, four of them are completely collapsed. 
The victims: Officials say 12 people died in Turkey's coastal west. At least 522 people were injured in the country, said Murat Kurum, Turkey's Environment and Urbanization Minister.

Among Turkey's injured, five people are in surgury and eight are in intensive care. Dozens were saved by rescue teams using diggers and helicopters to search for survivors, according to the country's disaster agency.

In Greece's island of Samos, two teenagers died, Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry confirmed to CNN. Their bodies have been recovered from the rubble.

Buildings have been damaged in both nations, and some Turkish coastal towns have been flooded.

The reaction: Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted “Get well soon İzmir” in the aftermath of the quake.

“With all the means of our state, we stand by our citizens affected by the earthquake. We took action to start the necessary work in the region with all our relevant institutions and ministers,” Erdogan added. 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Erdogan to offer condolences after an earthquake hit both countries on Friday.

"Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together," he wrote on Twitter in reference to both countries clashing in last few months over tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan thanked the Greek Mitsotakis for his condolences and offered the same to Greece on Twitter. "Turkey, too, is always ready to help Greece heal its wounds," Erdogan said, adding "that two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life."

3:05 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Turkey's president shows solidarity with Greece

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the Greek prime minister for his condolences and offered the same to Greece on Twitter, after both countries saw casualties after Friday's earthquake.

"Turkey, too, is always ready to help Greece heal its wounds," Erdogan said, adding "that two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life."

Greece and Turkey have clashed in the last few months over tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

3:04 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

More than 500 people injured in Turkey, official says

A collapsed building in Izmir on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Ismail Gokmen/AP

Murat Kurum, Turkey's Environment and Urbanization Minister said 522 people were injured during Friday's earthquake.

Kurum said 114 aftershocks have been recorded, and search and rescue operations continue in 17 buildings, four of them are completely collapsed. 

"We have search and rescue operatives in each building. 1,227 search and rescue teams are on the ground now," he added. 

At least 14 people died after the earthquake, which affected Turkey and Greece. At least 12 people were killed in Turkey and two in Greece.

2:07 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

5 of the injured are in surgery and 8 are in intensive care, says Turkish president

People carry a wounded person from the debris of a collapsed building in Izmir, Turkey, on October 30. Ismail Gokmen/AP

Among Turkey's injured following an earthquake, five people are being operated on and eight are in intensive care, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday evening.

At least 12 people were killed, and 419 people were injured in Turkey, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD).

At least two people died in Greece, which also saw damage from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the Aegean Sea off both Mediterranean nations on Friday.

Erdogan said he had a phone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, adding that the Greek government is ready to send aid to Turkey.

And I told him we are also ready to send aid to Greece, we’re in solidarity," he said.
1:14 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Death toll rises to at least 12 in Turkey

Search and rescue work is being conducted at a collapsed building in the district of Bayrakli in Izmir, Turkey on October 30, 2020. Mehmet Emin Menguarslan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

At least 12 people were killed, and 419 people were injured, following Thursday's earthquake, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD).

Search and rescue operations continue in 17 buildings, AFAD reported. 

This brings the total death toll across Turkey and Greece to at least 14 people. Buildings have been damaged in both countries, and some Turkish coastal towns have been flooded.

On the Greek island of Samos, two teenagers died, Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry confirmed to CNN. Their bodies have been recovered from the rubble.

12:54 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

She was walking along the water when the quake hit: "We started to run" 

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Beril Demiralay was walking along the waterfront in Sığacık, a seaside town in Turkey, when she felt the quake.

Demiralay was on vacation in the area. She told CNN that 20 minutes after the quake, she saw boats crashing into each other in the sea.

We started to run” she told CNN. 

Demiralay ended up on the second floor of a building, where she filmed floodwater filling the streets.

When she finally left the building two hours later, the streets had cleared of floodwater.

Streets in the Turkish coastal towns of Cesme and Seferihisar were also flooded after the quake.

12:25 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Total death toll rises to at least eight across Turkey and Greece

Damaged buildings are seen following the earthquake at the port of Vathy on the eastern Aegean island of Samos, Greece, on Oct. 30, 2020.  Michael Svarnias/AP

At least eight people have died in total across Turkey and Greece after an earthquake struck the Aegean Sea near both countries.

Six people died in Turkey, and another 257 people have been injured in the country. Rescue operations are underway, and some people have been evacuated from their homes.

In Greece's island of Samos, two teenagers died, Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry confirmed to CNN. Their bodies have been recovered from the rubble.

Buildings have been damaged in both nations, and some Turkish coastal towns have been flooded.

12:16 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Greek prime minister offers condolences to Turkish president after quake strikes both nations

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer condolences after an earthquake hit both countries on Friday.

Greece and Turkey have clashed in the last few months over tensions in the eastern Mediterranean but both nations suffered damage in the quake.

"I just called President [Erdogan] to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries," Mitsotakis tweeted.
"Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together."

12:06 p.m. ET, October 30, 2020

Two teenagers killed on Greek island, civil protection ministry says

Two teenagers, one boy and one girl, were killed on the island of Samos after the earthquake struck near the coast of the Greek island, Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry told CNN.

The teens were killed when a wall collapsed on them following the earthquake. 

A reporter on Greek television, who was near the rescue scene, described search teams' efforts to save the children.

The Greek Fire Service confirmed they had recovered the teenagers' bodies from the rubble.

The teenagers' deaths are being widely reported across Greek media.

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