Turkey and Greece earthquake latest: Girl, 14, died after ‘intense fear prompted panic attack’

Tourists in western Turkey and the Greek islands were shaken awake on Monday night as a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the popular holiday destination of Rhodes.

The quake struck about 29km north of Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands near the Turkey border, at around 2.17am (local time) on Tuesday at a depth of 68km, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

Tourists in the popular holiday destination of Rhodes took to X to share their experiences as a 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook their hotels.

“Nothing like being woke up while on the 5th floor building in Rhodes, while a earthquake is violently shaking the building! Something i can tick off the list! #earthquake,” said on X user named.

His post received comments from others who had also woken up in the small hours to find their accommodations shaking.

“Was crazy, my phone earthquake alert woke us both up first, then the whole building started shaking, unreal experience,” said another user.

At least one person has died in Turkey, while dozens of people sustained injuries as panicked locals tried to jump off their buildings, according to local reports.

A 14-year-old child died in the resort town of Fethiye following the earthquake, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said. The teenager was brought to the hospital but could not be saved, he added.

Dozens of locals were taken to hospital for treatment in Mugla in Turkey after they suffered injuries while trying to rush outside their homes.

Acar Unlu, the mayor of the Turkish resort town of Marmaris, told NTV broadcast that the region was jolted by the earthquake, prompting disaster management teams to be dispatched to assess the damage.

Read more here:

Travel agency TUI has cautioned British tourists in the region to “remain calm and follow any safety instructions provided by your accommodation or local officials”.

The region has been struck by multiple aftershocks, ranging from small tremors up to 2.9-magnitude quakes with epicentres near Mugla and Rhodes, since shortly after the initial powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck at 2.17am local time.

Earthquakes are relatively frequent in Turkey as the country is crossed by two major fault lines. This year alone, the country has witnessed three deadly earthquakes.

At least 53,000 people were killed in a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on 6 February 2023 followed by a second powerful tremor. The earthquakes destroyed scores of buildings and roads in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. The same incident killed 6,000 people in neighbouring Syria.

Last month a powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Crete in Greece, prompting the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre to issue an alert for a possible tsunami. Some popular sites on the island were closed amid landslides, but no significant injuries or damage were reported.

In April this year, about 236 residents were injured after jumping from buildings in panic following a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Istanbul. Many residents were also forced to spend the night outdoors after powerful aftershocks.

On a Monday morning in 2023, Turkey was hit by two powerful earthquakes in quick succession.

The first, the worst to strike the country since the Erzincan quake of 1939, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and struck near Gaziantep in the southeast of Turkey, killing more than 1,300 people in the region and neighbouring Syria, with the impact felt as far away as Cairo, Egypt, and Italy bracing for a possible tsunami.

The British Geological Survey explains that earthquakes like these, which so often have devastating consequences, are the result of “sudden movement along faults within the earth”.

Joe Sommerlad explains why they take occur:

An earthquake struck about 29km north of Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands near the Turkey border, at around 2.17am (local time) today at a depth of 68km, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

Here’s a look at the map showing where exactly the quake occured:

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder has explained all you need to know if you have a holiday booked to Turkey or Greece.

You’re not entitled to airline compensation for flight delays or cancellations caused by natural disasters, as these fall under “extraordinary circumstances” under UK and EU law, travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket says.

However, airlines must still provide food, drink, and accommodation depending on the delay length.

She adds: “If extreme conditions are forecasted before you book or leave for your trip, and you choose to travel regardless, your insurance provider may not cover you for any related problems.”

Ms Hempsted adds: “Buying your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip can ensure you are protected against the unexpected. Check your policy terms before buying your insurance, as some travel insurance providers may not cover you as standard in the event of a natural disaster.

“Be aware that if your policy includes natural disaster cover, this will only be paid out if the FCDO warns against anything other than essential travel. If your plans are impacted by a disaster, contact your insurance and airline as soon as you can.”