Devastating earthquake off the coast of Greece and Turkey leaves one dead and 10 injured
The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, left scores of homes on the island badly damaged.
Tremors were felt in Athens and on neighbouring islands, as well as in western Turkey, including in Istanbul.
Spyros Galinos, the mayor of Lesbos, said a woman had been found dead in the southern village of Vrisa. The village was worst-hit by the quake, which had its epicentre under the sea.
‘Most houses in Vrisa have suffered severe damage,’ Galinos said, adding that residents were being relocated to temporary housing that had been set up in a football field in a nearby village.
Earlier, rescuers pulled an elderly couple out of their badly damaged home in Vrisa. Miraculously, they had survived.
According to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management, the epicentre was at a shallow depth of four miles. At least 25 aftershocks were recorded after the initial earthquake at 3.28pm local time, or 12.28pm GMT.
The tremor was also felt in Istanbul and the western Turkish province of Izmir, but there were no injuries reported there.
‘The army is also helping, and will provide tents for people remaining outside their homes,’ Christiana Kalogirou said. ‘They will be able to stay in sports facilities.’
Lesbos authorities said homes were also damaged in the village of Plomari, and some roads were closed. However no severe damage was reported on nearby islands.
Earthquakes are frequent in Greece and Turkey, which are on active fault lines.
Experts in both countries warned people to expect more aftershocks.
Ayse Selvi, a 61-year-old Turkish woman, said she felt the tremors in her summer home in Karaburun – which was near the quake’s epicentre.
‘My God, all the picture frames fell on the ground and I have no idea how I ran out,’ she said. ‘I’m scared to go inside now.’
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