Travel Risks Caused by Earthquake in Aegean Sea
21 Jul 2017
Environmental: A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck between the island of Kos (Greece) and the coast city of Bodrum (Turkey) in the Aegean Sea, both major tourist destinations. The earthquake struck at 36.949°N, 27.458°E at 2231UTC on 20 July 2017, with a depth of just under 10km. The two deaths which occurred as a result of this earthquake, did so on the Greek island of Kos; one Swede and one Turk. Around 115 people were also injured on Kos, 13 seriously, one critically so. The two victims died when the ceiling of the bar that they were in collapsed. Other damage has occurred, including at the port of Kos.The Turkish health minister has stated that 358 people were injured in the Turkish resort town of Bodrum, with 272 of those taken to hospital in ambulances; while 25 have remained in hospital at the time of writing. No life-threatening injuries have been reported. Many of the injuries which have occurred are due to the panic caused by the earthquake rather than the effects of the earthquake itself, with reported incidents of holidaymakers jumping from buildings, for example.
Key Points
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck in the Aegean Sea, between Turkey and Greece.
- The earthquake has left at least two dead and hundreds injured.
- The epicentre of the quake was shallow, limiting its damage.
Situational Summary
Environmental: A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck between the island of Kos (Greece) and the coast city of Bodrum (Turkey) in the Aegean Sea, both major tourist destinations. The earthquake struck at 36.949°N, 27.458°E at 2231UTC on 20 July 2017, with a depth of just under 10km.
The two deaths which occurred as a result of this earthquake, did so on the Greek island of Kos; one Swede and one Turk. Around 115 people were also injured on Kos, 13 seriously, one critically so. The two victims died when the ceiling of the bar that they were in collapsed. Other damage has occurred, including at the port of Kos.
The Turkish health minister has stated that 358 people were injured in the Turkish resort town of Bodrum, with 272 of those taken to hospital in ambulances; while 25 have remained in hospital at the time of writing. No life-threatening injuries have been reported. Many of the injuries which have occurred are due to the panic caused by the earthquake rather than the effects of the earthquake itself, with reported incidents of holidaymakers jumping from buildings, for example.
The earthquake caused a mini tsunami off the Turkish coast, with a maximum wave height of around 0.4 metres. Although the wave height was not high, some damage was caused to cars parked along the Bodrum coast in Gumbet. Turkish authorities also noted that there were some power cuts and a minaret in the town of Islamkoy was said to have collapsed.
Solace Global Comment
The region is likely to feel aftershocks for the coming few weeks according to experts but these are unlikely to have a significant impact. One particular aftershock of note includes a 4.3 magnitude earthquake which occurred off the coast of the Greek island of Crete in the afternoon of 21 July, around 1300 local time.
The shallowness of the earthquake ensured that the damage caused to Kos and Bodrum was limited. Indeed, authorities in Kos have stated that predominantly the damage caused was to older buildings. The Greek government have deployed troops to assist in any required rescue work.
This is the second earthquake registering more than six on the Richter Scale to hit Greece this year. At least one person was killed in June when an earthquake struck the Greek island of Lesbos. This region is known to be seismically active.
SECURITY ADVICE
EnvironmentModerateKos – The port of Kos has been closed as a precautionary measure (due to some damage), which may affect travellers on the island or those with cruise stops there. Kos Airport was initially closed but has since reopened; travellers are advised that there may be some delays and cancellations. It is important travellers contact their operators before flying. Travellers should be advised that the area is considered safe at present (in terms of seismic activity) and further significant earthquakes are not expected in the short- to medium-term. Damage to infrastructure and buildings in Kos has been limited, with most damage reportedly superficial.
Bodrum – No significant negative impact has been reported at Bodrum airport, though there have been some delays. Turkish Airlines have put on more flights for those who need or want to leave. Travellers are again advised to check with their operators for full flight information.
Aftershocks have occurred since the initial quake. While these have not been, and are not expected to be, significant, as previously noted, they may cause some damage. It is advisable to avoid damaged areas and buildings. Travellers should also continue to adhere to official instruction should such a situation develop.
Earthquake advice
If inside during an earthquake you should:
If outside during an earthquake you should:
If in a moving car during an earthquake you should:
If caught under debris you should:
Travellers to these areas of Greece and Turkey are not advised of the need to employ enhanced security measures. However, it is advisable to employ travel tracking technology with an intelligence feed, so travellers can be made aware of security developments and inform others in case of an emergency.