Earthquake rocks Turkey; at least six dead, several injured

A strong earthquake which struck in the Aegean Sea between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos on Friday has killed at least six people and injured many others, according to officials.

Collapsing buildings in the Izmir metropolitan area in western Turkey, led to six deaths and 202 people being injured, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Haluk Ozener, Director of the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, said it was the first tremor in the Aegean of greater than 6.0 magnitude since 2017.

A small tsunami struck the Seferisar district of Izmir, and at least four people were slightly injured on Samos, where a tsunami warning was issued.

Izmir Governor Yavuz Selim Kosger said at least 70 people had been rescued from the wreckage of damaged buildings.

He said four buildings were destroyed and more than 10 collapsed, while others also were damaged.

Search and rescue efforts were continuing in at least 12 buildings, AFAD said.