Earth quake kills two, damages buildings in Greek island

At least two people were killed and more than 120 others wounded after a powerful earthquake with magnitude, 6.5 struck the Greek resort island of Kos overnight, damaging buildings and the main port.

The epicentre was 10 kilometres south of Bodrum, Turkey, and 16kms east-northeast of Kos with a depth of 10kms.

The quake also rattled other islands and Turkey's Aegean coast as well, but Kos was nearest to the epicenter and appeared to be the worst-hit, with all of the deaths and injuries reported there.

Quake damages buildings on Greek island; 2 killed, 120 hurt

According to reports, fallen bricks and other debris coated many streets, and the island's seafront road and parts of the main town were flooded by a small tsunami.

A report by Kos' hospital says at least 20 of the injured had broken bones.

When the quake hit a wall of a 1930s-built building collapsed crushing people who were in the downstairs bar, said Kos Mayor Giorgos Kyritsis.

There are not many old buildings left on Kos. Nearly all the structures on the island have been built under the new codes to withstand earthquakes, the mayor said.

Hundreds of tourists were forced to spend the rest of the night outside on beach lounges after their hotel windows were smashed as well as other structural damage reports Reuters.

The instant reaction was to get ourselves out of the room, Christopher Hackland of Edinburgh, who works as a scuba instructor on Kos, said.

There was banging. There was shaking. The light was swinging, banging on the ceiling, crockery falling out of the cupboards, and pans ...

There was a lot of screaming and crying and hysterics coming from the hotel," he said, referring to the hotel next to his apartment building. It felt like being at a theme park with one of the illusions, an optical illusion where you feel like you're upside down.

According to reports, authorities had warned of a localised tsunami, and witnesses described a "swelling" of the sea after the earthquake. 

Other buildings damaged included amosque where a minaret collapsed and a 14th-century fortress at the entrance to the main port. Minor damage includes - cracks in buildings, smashed windows and trashed shops - appeared widespread.

Greek officials said the numerous aftershocks were weaker but still could put at risk the buildings that were already damaged.