Death toll rises after a powerful earthquake causes buildings to collapse in western Turkey

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake in the Aegean Sea rattled parts of Greece and Turkey on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The Associated Press, citing Turkey's interior minister, reported that at least 10 buildings in the country's western province of Izmir collapsed and another four destroyed.

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Turkey Friday afternoon local time (Image/USGS)

The powerful quake was followed up by a small tsunami that sent water gushing into the Seferisar district of Izmir, The AP said.

At least 28 people have died and over 800 injured, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. These numbers could rise as search and rescue efforts continue. One of the fatalities occurred when a person drowned.

Locals and officials search for survivors at a collapsed building after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday and was felt in both Greece and Turkey, where some buildings collapsed in the coastal province of Izmir, Turkey, Oct. 30, 2020. REUTERS/Tuncay Dersinlioglu

It was a shallow earthquake with a depth of 6 miles (10 km), according to the USGS. Shallow temblors tend to be more damaging than those that occur deeper below the surface of the earth.

The Turkish city of Izmir, with a population of more than 250,000, is located about 40 miles (64 km) from where the epicenter of the earthquake was recorded.

Rescue workers and local people try to save residents trapped in the debris of a collapsed building, in Izmir, Turkey, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. A strong earthquake struck Friday in the Aegean Sea between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos, collapsing buildings in the city of Izmir in western Turkey, and officials said at least six people were killed and scores were injured.(AP Photo/Ismail Gokmen)

The earthquake occurred shortly before 8 a.m. EDT or a little before 3 p.m. in Turkey. Light shaking from the temblor was felt across the sea in the Greek capital of Athens. There have been more than a dozen aftershocks since with a magnitude of at least 2.5 or higher, according to the USGS.

The AP, citing Greek media, said residents of the eastern Greek island of Samos and other islands fled their homes as rockfalls were reported.

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As recovery efforts begin, AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards said the AccuWeather forecast for western Turkey calls for dry conditions to unfold through Saturday following rounds of showers. Highs will be in the upper 60s F (19-21 C) and winds will be light with some sunshine on Saturday, he said.

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