A strong earthquake struck the western coast of Turkey early Tuesday morning, causing widespread panic and injuries. The quake, recorded at a magnitude of 5.8, hit near the Mediterranean town of Marmaris and was also felt on the Greek island of Rhodes, a popular holiday destination. According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the epicentre was about 29 kilometres north of Rhodes and occurred at a depth of 68 kilometres around 2:17 am local time.
One fatality was reported in Turkey. A 14-year-old child died in the resort town of Fethiye after being rushed to the hospital. Dozens more were injured, most of them while trying to escape their buildings in panic. Emergency responders transported many to hospitals in Mugla province for treatment.
Local authorities, including Marmaris Mayor Acar Unlu, confirmed that disaster response teams were sent to assess the situation immediately after the quake. Witnesses described being shaken awake in the early hours. A tourist staying in Rhodes described the experience as terrifying, recounting how the building shook violently while they were on the fifth floor.
Tremors were felt across southern Greece, western Turkey, and along the Aegean coast. Earthquakes are not unusual in this region. Turkey, in particular, remains vulnerable due to its location along active fault lines. In February 2023, the country suffered a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people and caused massive destruction across 11 provinces. That disaster also claimed 6,000 lives in neighbouring Syria.
Just last month, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Crete, Greece, prompting a tsunami alert and the temporary closure of several tourist sites. Although there were landslides, no major damage or injuries were reported in that incident.
Emergency teams remain on high alert in affected areas, monitoring for aftershocks and further risks.
