Death toll in deadly earthquake in Turkey and Greece hits 26

The death toll in the powerful earthquake that levelled buildings across Greece and Turkey has risen to 26.

The quake struck late Friday afternoon, causing a mini-tsunami on the Aegean island of Samos and a sea surge that turned streets into rushing rivers in a town on Turkey’s west coast.

The US Geological Survey said the 7.0 magnitude tremor hit 14 kilometres (nine miles) off the Greek town of Karlovasi on Samos.

The quake was felt in both Istanbul and Athens.

Much of the damage occurred in and around Turkey’s Aegean resort city of Izmir, which has three million residents and is filled with high-rise apartment blocks.

Aerial footage showed entire city blocks turned to rubble.

 Multiple reports say 20 buildings had collapsed, with officials focusing their rescue efforts on 17 of them.

Turkey’s disaster relief agency reported 24 deaths and 800 injuries, while in Greece two teenagers   died on their way home from school on Samos when a wall collapsed.

The scenes of devastation suggested the toll could rise.

Source: WION News