Quake made buildings shake 'like jelly', says tourist

Tourists on the Greek island of Kos have told of their horror and panic after a deadly earthquake struck in the early hours today.

At least two people have died and 120 have been injured according to local authorities. The Kos hospital reported at least 20 of the injured had broken bones.

Holidaymakers and residents up and down the Turkish coast ran from their beds after the quake hit and have taken to Twitter to share their experiences.

Kristian Stevens, from Lancashire in the UK, tweeted: "It was quite surreal as I had just laid down in bed and the whole building shook. The whole building shook like a jelly."

"Many of the locals rushed out into the streets still in underwear," Stevens added.

"Some have been seen with blankets and pillows not sure if it is safe to return home."

Former Cardiff City footballer Kevin McNaughton said he is near Dalaman, 190 kilometres from Bodrum in Turkey, and tweeted: "Jesus just experienced earthquake in Turkey, literally crapped myself room shaking allover place, Just stood outside now no sure what to do."

Reuters reported the deaths were confirmed by George Kyritsis, the mayor of the island which is a major tourism resort.

"We have two dead and some people injured so far," Kyritsis told the news agency.

Hospital officials said the deaths happened when a ceiling collapsed during the 6.7-magnitude quake, reports AFP.

Kyritsis explained a wall collapsed on a building dating to the 1930s and it crushed people who were at the bar in the building's lower level.

Many of Kos' buildings have been cracked, with windows smashed and shops destroyed while one third of the island remains without power after the quake.

Rescuers were checking for trapped people inside houses after the quake struck in the middle of the night. Kyritsis said the army was mobilised along with emergency services.

Kos' port was among the structures to be damaged and a ferry enroute to the island has been unable to dock, the Greek coast guard said.

The  quake, which struck about 12kms south-southeast of Bodrum in south-eastern Turkey, rattled the Turkish coast and nearby Greek islands, causing people to flee buildings.

The force of the earthquake and its impact was felt as far away as Rhodes and Crete, reports The Daily Telegraph.

It is unclear how much damage the quake has done. Tourists turned to Twitter to describe the hotels  being shaken.

One Twitter user wrote "Earthquake is Kos, absolute mental, never felt anything like it."

Turkish television said the earthquake triggered high waves off Gumbet near Bodrum which flooded the road and left parked cars stranded. There were no reports of casualties.

An AFP correspondent holidaying in Bodrum said the quake was followed by aftershocks. 

"The bed shook a lot. Some bottles fell and broke in the kitchen and the patio," said Turkish pensioner Dilber Arikan, who has a summer house in the area.

Regional government officials in Turkey said power was out in certain parts of the province and that telephone operators experienced shortages because of overloads, according to Reuters.

Bodrum Mayor Mehmet Kocadon said the earthquake caused minor cracks on some old buildings.

"A small tsunami is confirmed. Avoid beaches in the area, but you are safe on higher grounds," EMSC said on Twitter on Friday.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which monitors tsunamis around the world, did not issue any alert.