Earthquake hits Turkey’s İzmir, at least 51 killed

Search and rescue efforts continue after the Oct. 30 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 that hit Turkey’s Aegean province of İzmir. At least 51 citizens were killed, Vice President Fuat Oktay confirmed on Nov. 1.

Three out of 11 citizens under intensive care are in critical condition, he said.

Rescue work contiunes in eight buildings with a 2.076 strong personnel, he added.

Oktay also said 19 boats sank due to the tsunami wave after the earthquake, and 23 boats were rescued.

Search and rescue efforts continue with 4,419 search and rescue personnel, 20 K9 dogs and 475 vehicles from AFAD, JAK, NGOs and municipalities, AFAD said.

Tents for accommodation

Local authorities also spent efforts to meet the food and accommodation demands of the citizens, warning them not to go into damaged buildings.

İzmir Mayor Tunç Soyer said tents were erupted and sterilized against Covid-19 risks.

Nearly 550 aftershocks came after the first wave.

Along with İzmir small number of people were injured in neighboring Aydın, Manisa and Balıkesir.

İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Koşger said all collapsed buildings were attended.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the earthquake site and said all losses would be compensated. The citizens whose houses are damaged will be offered money to pay their rent and new houses will be built, he said.

In a social media message, Erdoğan thanked all countries that have sent solidarity messages.

A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy died on the Samos island of Greece. Officials said 19 people were wounded in the country.

Serdar Sandal, the mayor of central Bayraklı district said on Oct. 30 that some 10 buildings were reported to be damaged, with one building with nine stores was a major concern. Five citizens have been rescued from that building thanks to initial efforts and rescue activity was ongoing. Traffic congestion hampered search and rescue teams’ accession to collapsed buildings, officials have warned.

TV channels and social media users shared tsunami effects from İzmir’s coastal districts.

Three cars were swept to the sea due to the water movement, said Ekrem Orhan, the mayor of the coastal İzmir district of Çeşme.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said that the epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 16.5 km in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Seferihisar district.

The Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute reported the magnitude of the earthquake as 6.8.

A video showing the moment of the quake was shared by social media users.