KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 26 people have been killed by a powerful earthquake in Greece and Turkey, levelling buildings, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday.
Following the devastating quale, rescuers continued to dig through heavy blocks of concrete with bare hands on Saturday for survivors.
In Turkey, the TV channel said, much of the destruction happened in and around the Aegean resort city of Izmir — dotted with high-rise apartment blocks.
A mini-tsunami struck the Aegean island of Samos and a sea surge turned streets into gushing rivers in one town on Turkey’s west coast.
Turkish officials put the toll at 24 dead and 800 injured, with a boy and a girl killed in a building collapse on the island of Samos.
Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis was quoted as saying: “Words fail when children are lost. In these difficult hours, our thoughts turn to their families…”
The Turkish city of Izmir was jolted by the 7 magnitude earthquake, which razed multiple-story buildings. Residents jumped out to escape, as smoke rose from the rubble.
At least 196 aftershocks have been recorded, 23 of which were over 4.0 magnitude. Search and rescue operations continue in 17 buildings, four of which have collapsed.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the tremor’s magnitude at 7.0, while Turkish authorities said it was 6.6. The quake struck 8.7 miles northeast of the town of Néon Karlovásion on Samos.
PAN Monitor/mud
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