Top holiday destinations Greece and Turkey have both been struck with brutal earthquakes that have so far killed one person. The strongest of the quakes, measuring 5.8 in magnitude, struck western Turkey and nearby Greek islands around 2am on Tuesday, and caused 69 injuries as well as one fatality.
The epicentre of the earthquake was just outside the popular Turkish holiday resort town of Marmaris, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). EMSC did not issue a tsnuami alert but heavy shaking was felt in the much-loved toursist island of Rhodes just 29km to the south, as well as on other islands around the Aegean Sea.
Since then, a magnitude 5.3 quake hit Chrissi island off the southern coast of Crete just after 2pm on Tuesday. Athanasios Ganas, from the Geodynamic Institute, said the quake was unrelated to the earlier 5.8-magnitude event.
He told Ekathimerini: “The morning earthquake in Rhodes and the midday one in Crete do not appear to be connected, although both are part of the Hellenic arc, on its southeastern side. The midday earthquake in Crete is also unrelated to the 2020 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.6 Richter and occurred south of Ierapetra.”
So far the UK Government has not updated its travel advice for Turkey or Greece. According to the FCDO travel advice for Turkey: “Many parts of Turkey regularly experience earthquakes and tremors. These can be high magnitude, cause damage to infrastructure, and pose a risk to life.
“A 6.2-magnitude earthquake which occurred in the Sea of Marmara in April 2025, was felt strongly in Istanbul. Be aware of the risk of aftershocks.”
Regarding Greece, the FCDO website says: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods. To be alerted to events near where you are located in Greece, register for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service) (in English)”.
Express.co.uk has contacted the FCDO for travel advice updates for both Greece and Turkey.
One tourist holidaying in Bodrum, in the west of Turkey, said she felt her hotel shake during the quake. “The earthquake wasn’t that strong where we are in Bodrum, we are about 164km from Marmaris where the earthquake hit,” she told the Independent.
“There was some shaking around 2.15am for us but it only lasted for maybe 30 seconds to a minute here so it was over quite quick.
“None of the buildings here were affected as far as I know but we have had a leak in our accommodation bathroom which we are under the impression the earthquake potentially had caused.”
