2 tourists killed as powerful quake hits popular resorts

Deadly earthquake rattles tourist spots near Greece, Turkey

A strong earthquake hit off the Greek and Turkish coasts overnight, killing two people. More than 120 were hurt when the magnitude 6.6 quake struck.

Buildings were damaged, including some that were centuries old.

The epicenter was in the Aegean Sea, between two popular tourist destinations; Bodrum, Turkey and the Greek island of Kos.

CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti reports that the quake hit on one of the busiest weeks of the tourist season, leaving thousands without safe shelter and no clear place to go.

A man looks at rubble fallen from a quake damaged building on the Greek Island of Kos on July 21, 2017 following a 6.5 magnitude earthquake which struck the region. Getty

One woman had just blown out the candles on her birthday cake when the earthquake struck. Video her family shot shows what appeared to be a transformer blowing up in the distance. Within seconds, the Aegean Sea spilled into the Turkish coastal to city of Bodrum.

Surveillance video from inside a cafe shows panicked diners running for safety. Hospital staff in the city were caught on security cameras ducking for cover under desks along with their patients. Everyone was later evacuated to the streets

Daybreak showed thousands of tourists who had spent the night outdoors -- many sleeping in parking lots and on sunbeds along the beach.

The earthquake rattled the region at 1:30 in the morning.  

Tourists wait outside the terminal building at the airport on the Greek Island of Kos on July 21, 2017 following a 6.5 magnitude earthquake which struck the region. Getty

The most extensive damage was to older buildings like those on the Greek island of Kos. The two tourists killed in the quake -- one from Turkey and one from Sweden -- were inside a bar on the island when the temblor struck.

The powerful quake also caused a small tsunami, which tossed around boats along the Turkish coast like toys.

Heavy flooding and debris blocked roads, stalling rescue efforts.

It was the second strong earthquake to hit the region in recent weeks, and it produced more than 100 aftershocks, which continue to threaten the stability of buildings already damaged.

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