6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Aegean Sea, Greece
OFF THE COAST OF GREECE (CBS SF) -- A powerful 6.9 magnitude quake shook the nations of Greece and Turkey overnight, with the most significant shaking felt eleven miles away in Kamariotissa, Greece.
The massive earthquake struck 184 miles north-northeast of Athens, and 51 miles from Turkey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tweeted that it does not issue alerts for the Mediterranean, but that data show the tsunami risk was minimal, and there are no reports of wave damage in the region.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake is significant and can cause widespread damage. The initial USGS reports placed the quake as a 6.4 magnitude, but then revised it exponentially upward.
The Associated Press reports at least 100 injuries already.
Ahmet Cinar, the governor for Canakkale province in northwest Turkey which includes Gokceada island, told private NTV television that more than 100 people sought treatment at hospitals for minor injuries, both on the island and the mainland. Most of them were hurt trying to get out of buildings in panic, including jumping from balconies. At least one woman was hurt by falling bricks.
The quake caused damage to some buildings in the province, including two mosques, but there were no reports of any structures collapsing.
Also in Canakkale, patients were evacuated from a state hospital whose walls cracked. Authorities were setting up a field hospital to take care of patients, the Dogan news agency reported.
A duty officer at the Lemnos police precinct said a female British tourist was slightly injured at the airport when part of the ceiling fell. She was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization. No other damage or injuries had been reported.
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