6.7 quake in Turkey with tsunami

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake hits off Turkey's coast

Stuff,

21 July, 2017

At least two people have been killed on Greece's Kos island by a strong earthquake that struck between Greece and Turkey.

The magnitude 6.7 struck off the southwestern Aegean Turkish coast on Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake, which struck at 1.31am local time was located off the southwestern coastal city of Marmaris in the Mugla province, the USGS said. It was close to the Turkish towns of Bodrum and Datca, both major tourist hubs.

"We have two dead and some people injured so far," Kos Mayor George Kyritsis told Reuters.

Greece's fire service reported it had rescued three people from a damaged building.

"A small tsunami is confirmed. Avoid beaches in the area, but you are safe on higher grounds," EMSC said on Twitter. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which monitors tsunamis around the world, did not issue any alert.

Mugla Mayor Osman Gurun said power outages affected certain parts of the province and that telephone operators experienced shortages due to overloads. Bodrum Mayor Mehmet Kocadon said the earthquake had caused minor cracks on some old buildings.

Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that aftershocks were being felt in the region, with a 4.6 magnitude aftershock hitting at 1.52am.

The temblor, initially reported as a magnitude 6.9, was very shallow, only 10 km below the seabed, the USGS said.

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said the temblor had a magnitude of 6.3, while local authorities said the quake was felt across the Aegean coast.

A magnitude 6.7 quake is considered strong and is capable of causing considerable damage, but the effects of this one would have been dampened by striking in the sea.

Turkey is prone to earthquakes because it is located between the Arabian plate and Eurasian plate