Death toll reaches 43 in quake that hit Turkey, Greek island

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in the Aegean Sea rose to at least 43 Sunday as rescue workers in the Turkish city of Izmir raced to save dozens of more people thought to be trapped under the rubble of at least eight collapsed buildings, Turkish officials said, according to The Washington Times report.

 

The earthquake, which struck Friday afternoon just north of the Greek island of Samos, caused deaths in both Turkey and Greece, flooded coastal areas and flattened residential buildings. At least 43 people were killed in Turkey, officials said, and more than 800 were reported injured.

 

Nine boats sank and more than 20 ran aground, Turkish authorities said.

 

The US Geological Survey said it was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, while Turkey’s disaster management agency recorded its magnitude as 6.6.

 

Tremors were felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter, in Athens and Istanbul. More than 500 aftershocks followed, the disaster agency said.

 

Izmir Mayor Tunc Soyer told Fox News on Saturday that rescue teams were still trying to reach 180 people trapped under the rubble.