A HUGE 5.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Greece and Turkey killing one person and leaving fearful locals jumping off buildings.
The quake struck just after 2am local time this morning (12am BST) about 42miles deep and just off the coast of southwest Turkey.
Tragically, a 14-year-old girl died in the resort town of Fethiye in Turkey from a panic attack, while dozens of people have been injured.
Approximately 70 individuals sustained injuries as they hurried to find safety, with some even “leaping from heights out of panic” in the nearby city of Mugla, as reported by Turkey’s internal minister.
Seven people were injured after jumping from windows or balconies in a panic, the governor of Mugla, Idris Akbiyik, said.
The quake was felt along the Turquoise Coast and in neighbouring regions, including in the Greek island of Rhodes, waking many from their sleep.
The island is popular with Brit holidaymakers and lies only 18miles south of the epicentre.
Are you currently on holiday in Turkey or Greece and felt the earthquake? Please get in touch with james.halpin@the-sun.co.uk
Brits on holiday on the island shared their shock at the shaking.
Stefan Harradine, 37, felt the shaking while on the sixth floor of his hotel in Rhodes.
He told The Sun the experience was “terrifying… it was a scary time.
“We’re in a big hotel with 700 rooms and you could just feel it swaying.
“It was like being on a boat.”
The Hampshire man said that he and his wife leapt out of bed to comfort their nine-month-old, who had begun to cry.
Soon after, guests at the hotel began to gather outside.
It took an hour before the adrenaline wore off and they were able to get back to bed.
He said: “It’s a birthday I’m not going to forget.”
Other Brits on holiday shared what they experienced on social media.
One person shared: “Nothing quite like being woken up on the 5th floor of a building in Rhodes during a violent earthquake! That’s definitely something to tick off my list!”
Another posted: “Nothing quite like a 6.6 magnitude earthquake to wake you up in the middle of the night in Rhodes…”
Another individual commented: “Just went through an earthquake on the final night of our vacation in Rhodes! That was intense. The hotel swayed like a baby’s cradle!! Wishing everyone is alright.”
Brit holiday company TUI told customers currently holidaying on the resort island that local authorities were assessing the situation.
They said: “At this time, there are no reports of significant damage or injuries. As a precaution, please remain calm and follow any safety instructions provided by your accommodation or local officials.
“Should any specific action be required on your part, rest assured that we will contact you directly with further guidance. Your safety and well-being are our top priority.”
Of those injured, 14 were treated at the scene, eight were briefly treated then discharged and another 46 were being treated in hospital, Turkey’s internal minister said.
There are no reports of injuries in Greece and the quake was felt as far away as Egypt.
The quake comes just weeks after a powerful 6.2 earthquake struck Istanbul, injuring at least 150 people.
Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023, and a second powerful tremor that came hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern Turkish provinces, leaving more than 53,000 people dead.
Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighbouring Syria.
