A 14-year-old girl has died and 69 others were injured after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Marmaris, Turkey and Rhodes, Greece early Tuesday morning.
According to CNN Turkey, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted a statement on social media regarding the earthquake.
Minister Yerlikaya stated: “A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Marmaris, in Muğla. The quake was also felt in nearby provinces. AFAD and all relevant emergency teams are conducting on-site inspections under the coordination of our regional governor. Based on preliminary findings, there is no damage to residences across the city.”
During the earthquake, in the town of Fethiye, 14-year-old Afranur Günlü was taken to the hospital after experiencing a panic attack. Despite doctors’ efforts, she tragically passed away.
In Muğla and surrounding areas, 14 of the 69 injured citizens jumped from heights out of pani, such as balconies, and were treated at the scene. Eight people received care and were discharged, while 46 remain in emergency departments.
Professor of Geology and President of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), Efthymios Lekkas, speaking to ERTNews, was reassuring about the quake that occurred in the sea area between Rhodes and Turkey.
“This earthquake is characterized by its depth—about 60 kilometers. That allows us to say that while it was widely felt in the Dodecanese and parts of Turkey, it’s unlikely to cause significant surface damage. There will be no tsunami, and we don’t expect a rich aftershock sequence,” he noted. “Most likely, this was the main quake due to the depth involved. It was certainly a strong event for residents of Rhodes and nearby areas, but beyond that, we don’t anticipate anything further.”
