Magnitude 7 Earthquake Off Turkish Coast... Multiple Casualties Expected

Rescue operations are underway to save survivors from buildings collapsed due to an earthquake in Izmir, Turkey.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] On the afternoon of the 30th (local time), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred in the Aegean Sea area between the western coast of Turkey and the Greek island of Samos, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), reported by AP News.

The earthquake struck around 3 p.m. near the Aegean Sea, about 14 km from the Greek city of Nengno Karlovasion on the island of Samos.

In Izmir, the capital of Turkey's western Izmir Province, several buildings collapsed. Some residents in Izmir were reported to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, with a population of 4.5 million.

Fahrettin Koca, Turkey's Minister of Health, stated on Twitter, "Four of our residents have died and 120 have been injured due to the earthquake." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We are ready to mobilize all available resources to assist."