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Brit tourists make a dash for the airport to escape Mediterranean holiday hell after huge earthquake killed two and injured 120 in Greece and Turkey

Flights in and out of the island were cancelled yesterday but will be back to normal today

HORDES of tourists have fled to the airport on the Greek island of Kos today after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

Crowds were spotted outside Kos International Airport as they tried to leave the holiday hot spot.

Crowds were pictured outside Kos International Airport
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Crowds were pictured outside Kos International AirportCredit: Getty Images
Many were forced to sit on the ground outside the terminal
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Many were forced to sit on the ground outside the terminalCredit: Getty Images
Tourists were seen gathering outside the airport in Kos as they prepared to flee the holiday island
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Tourists were seen gathering outside the airport in Kos as they prepared to flee the holiday islandCredit: Reuters
Thousands of British holidaymakers were caught up in last night's earthquake
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Thousands of British holidaymakers were caught up in last night's earthquakeCredit: Getty Images
Many resorted to lying down on the tarmac outside the airport as they waited for a flight home
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Many resorted to lying down on the tarmac outside the airport as they waited for a flight homeCredit: Getty Images

Flights in and out of the island were cancelled yesterday causing delays, but schedules are due to return to normal today.

Many travellers were forced to sit on the ground outside the terminal with their luggage.

Thousands of Brits were caught up in a 6.7 magnitude quake which hit on Friday morning at around 1:30am.

The quake, which hit the popular resorts of Bodrum and Kos, killed two, injured at least 100 others and triggered a tsunami last night.

The government has warned British holidaymakers will face certain travel disruption at what is the busiest time of year - and should also be on alert for aftershocks.

The latest guidance warns: "Flights and ferry services are being significantly disrupted as a result of the earthquake. Please contact your airline, ferry company or tour operator for updates to services."

Last night tourists were seen fleeing their hotels as the quake struck
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Last night tourists were seen fleeing their hotels as the quake struckCredit: Getty Images
The government has told tourists to be on alert for aftershocks
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The government has told tourists to be on alert for aftershocksCredit: Getty Images

And travellers to Turkey are being advised: "There may be disruption to ferry and flight services as a result of the earthquake."

The Foreign Office also instructs tourists to Greece and Turkey to "be aware of the possibility of aftershocks."

Meanwhile, travel agent Thomas Cook said all of its 2,682 British customers in Kos and 441 in Bodrum are accounted for.

A statement said: "Our teams in the resort areas affected by the earthquake and in our customer centres are supporting customers currently on holiday in the region. We have no reports of any injuries and there is little impact on our hotels."

Terrified holidaymakers were seen running for their lives as tremors shook buildings and beachfront hotels were flooded.

Dozens of Brits told The Sun they woke up to find their hotel rooms "violently shaking".

The damaged facade of Agios Nikolaos church following an earthquake in Kos island
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 The damaged facade of Agios Nikolaos church following an earthquake in Kos islandCredit: AP:Associated Press
A cat watches from behind a broken pavement at the port of the Mediterranean island of Kos, Greece
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A cat watches from behind a broken pavement at the port of the Mediterranean island of Kos, GreeceCredit: AP:Associated Press
Tables and chairs are seen overturned and crushed in the streets of Kos
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Tables and chairs are seen overturned and crushed in the streets of KosCredit: Reuters
People took to social media to share their photos of the devastating damage
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 People took to social media to share their photos of the devastating damageCredit: Reuters
Bicycles and mopeds are seen destroyed by fallen rubble
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Bicycles and mopeds are seen destroyed by fallen rubbleCredit: Reuters
People look at the damaged Ottoman-era Defterdar mosque following the earthquake on the island of Kos
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People look at the damaged Ottoman-era Defterdar mosque following the earthquake on the island of KosCredit: Reuters
Rubble is seen having cascaded down a stone staircase on the island
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Rubble is seen having cascaded down a stone staircase on the islandCredit: Getty Images
A policeman looks at a damaged mosque on the island
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A policeman looks at a damaged mosque on the islandCredit: Getty Images
Man stands next to a huge pile of debris created by a wall collapsing during the tremors
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 Man stands next to a huge pile of debris created by a wall collapsing during the tremorsCredit: Reuters
The ruins of Kos' Cactus Bar, which suffered severe damage
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The ruins of Kos' Cactus Bar, which suffered severe damageCredit: Getty Images
Huge cracks are seen around the window of a damaged church
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 Huge cracks are seen around the window of a damaged churchCredit: EPA
Boats are seen damaged on a beach after the earthquake caused a sea surge in Bodrum, Turkey
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Boats are seen damaged on a beach after the earthquake caused a sea surge in Bodrum, TurkeyCredit: Getty Images
Workers are seen attending to damage at a square on Kos
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Workers are seen attending to damage at a square on KosCredit: EPA
An enormous crack is seen in the harbour at Kos
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An enormous crack is seen in the harbour at KosCredit: AP:Associated Press
Medics transfer a woman off the island of Kos to the hospital of the city of Heraklion on Crete
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Medics transfer a woman off the island of Kos to the hospital of the city of Heraklion on CreteCredit: Reuters
Tourists were forced to flee their hotels and sleep outside last night
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Tourists were forced to flee their hotels and sleep outside last nightCredit: @deborah_bigtoe : Twitter

Last night, the Mayor of Kos confirmed two people died on the party island after buildings collapsed.

Authorities confirmed today they were two men; a 22-year-old from Sweden and a 39-year-old from Turkey.

Advice for travellers

Travellers due to fly to Kos or Bodrum in the next day or two should contact their tour operator or airline about possible delays or cancellations.
If flights or accommodation are cancelled by a carrier or operator you are entitled to a refund or alternative holiday but not if you cancel yourself.
It is safe to go to the area but the Foreign Office warned of possible aftershocks.
However, most hotels are already back to normal and the majority of flights are now running on time.
There is disruption to some ferry services in Greece.
And there may be delays getting to accommodation if infrastructure is affected.

The pair were reportedly killed by a collapsed ceiling at the White Corner Club bar.

Police said another man from Sweden lost both of his legs.

Giorgos Halkidios, a Kos government official, added at least 100 people were injured - a figure which has since risen to at least 120.

"Two or three of them are in serious condition and are in surgery," he said.

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He added the wounded included people trapped underneath a building that collapsed.

Nobody is believed to have died in Turkey, but the Bodrum State Hospital was reportedly evacuated.

Brits told The Sun they had been evacuated from their hotels, with pictures showing holidaymakers bunking down on sun loungers over fears buildings may be unsafe.

“I thought it was my sister moving the bed so I shouted at her to be quiet then we realised it was an earthquake! Our hearts were pounding.

Partygoers stand outside a bar on Kos seriously damaged in the quake
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Partygoers stand outside a bar on Kos seriously damaged in the quakeCredit: EPA
This cafe was left littered with rubble following the 6.7 magnitude earthquake
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This cafe was left littered with rubble following the 6.7 magnitude earthquakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
People were forced to sleep on the beach after spending the night outside in Bitez, about 4 miles west of Bodrum
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People were forced to sleep on the beach after spending the night outside in Bitez, about 4 miles west of BodrumCredit: AP:Associated Press
Hotel guests sleep outdoors after abandoning their rooms in Bitez
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Hotel guests sleep outdoors after abandoning their rooms in BitezCredit: AP:Associated Press
A car is seen covered with rubble on Kos
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A car is seen covered with rubble on KosCredit: EPA

“We ran outside the hotel scared, other guests were running from downstairs screaming and crying.

“Cats and dogs were running around outside confused. The electric cables were swaying. Lights were flickering. Children were screaming.

“The swimming pool was overflowing like it was being tipped side to side.

“It was really weird like a simulator, it's made us feel dizzy, sick and disoriented.”

Footage reportedly filmed inside the hospital showed doctors and sick children huddling under desks as the building shakes.

The tremor struck at 1.31am local time around 6.4 miles south of the Turkish resort, and 10 miles east of Kos.

People walk past a damaged car following a sea surge in this Turkish coastal city of Mugla, Bodrum Province
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People walk past a damaged car following a sea surge in this Turkish coastal city of Mugla, Bodrum ProvinceCredit: EPA
Smashed bottles cover the floor of an off licence on the island of Kos
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Smashed bottles cover the floor of an off licence on the island of KosCredit: EPA
A badly damaged church is seen with gaping holes in its walls on Kos
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A badly damaged church is seen with gaping holes in its walls on KosCredit: EPA
People receive medical treatment outside Bodrum State Hospital, which was reportedly evacuated
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People receive medical treatment outside Bodrum State Hospital, which was reportedly evacuatedCredit: EPA
Damaged boats are seen on a beach following in the Agean coastal city of Mugla
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Damaged boats are seen on a beach following in the Agean coastal city of MuglaCredit: EPA
People on bikes and mopeds pass by damaged buildings on Kos in the early hours of this morning
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People on bikes and mopeds pass by damaged buildings on Kos in the early hours of this morningCredit: Getty Images
A damaged minivan is seen in Mugla surrounded by floodwater in the aftermath of the earthquake
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A damaged minivan is seen in Mugla surrounded by floodwater in the aftermath of the earthquakeCredit: EPA
Shocking pictures show the devastation caused by the earthquake in Kos
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Shocking pictures show the devastation caused by the earthquake in KosCredit: Twitter/RomeikoCalendar

One Brit tourist said: “My sister and I were woken up to our beds rocking side to side like the exorcist and whole hotel shaking.

Footage reportedly filmed in the aftermath of the quake in Kos showed roofs caved in by falling debris and pieces of stone strewn across a square.

Witnesses told how sea levels dipped by about a foot before the tsunami struck, followed by mass floods shortly after.

HOLIDAY DISASTER If you’re heading to Greece or Turkey, can you cancel your holiday and get your money back?

Terrified British holidaymakers in popular Greek resort Rhodes also described waking up to "swaying" buildings.

Former footballer Kevin McNaughton, who is near Dalaman, around 120 miles from Bodrum, said he was caught up in the quake.

The former Cardiff City player tweeted: "Jesus just experienced earthquake in Turkey, literally crapped myself room shaking allover place, just stood outside now no sure what to do."

Terrifying photos showed how hotels were filled with water
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Terrifying photos showed how hotels were filled with water
Damage and flooding are seen on a coastal road in Kos
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Damage and flooding are seen on a coastal road in KosCredit: AP:Associated Press
Mopeds and bicycles are seen crushed under rubble in Kos
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Mopeds and bicycles are seen crushed under rubble in KosCredit: AP:Associated Press

Chris Burden, 59, from Salisbury, Wilts., is on holiday in Rhodes Town.

He said: "It was a massive tremor for about 45 seconds. It was frightening.

"The hotel has cracked walls - it's basically split in half."

Londoner Fred Nathan, 25, was on holiday in Rhodes with girlfriend Mary O’Connor when they were woken by the tremor.

He told The Sun: “We woke up and the room was shaking.

“It was really disorientating. We got up to look out the room and it was still shaking.

Rubble surrounds a bar in Kos seriously damaged in the quake
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Rubble surrounds a bar in Kos seriously damaged in the quakeCredit: Twitter/RomeikoCalendar
Damage in Bodrum, Turkey, after the earthquake caused a tsunami
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Damage in Bodrum, Turkey, after the earthquake caused a tsunamiCredit: Twitter/GlobalZarfati

“We felt really uneasy on our feet. It seems like it was felt all over the island.

“Our hotel said all the lifts are out of action.”

European quake agency EMSC urged people to avoid going near the coast due to the tsunami.

It said on Twitter: "A small tsunami is confirmed. AVOID BEACHES IN THE AREA, but you are safe on higher grounds."

The quake reportedly hit off the coast of Marmaris, according to the US Geological Survey.

Stunned tourists and locals described the scary experience on social media after the quake hit.

Bodrum resident Jeff tweeted: "House felt like it had turned into giant washing machine on a spin cycle! Very scary!"

John O'Brennan‏ wrote on Twitter: "Just experienced 30 second earthquake in Rhodes.

"I hope there are no injuries. Building shook furiously. But all ok."

Danny Gray‏, on holiday in Rhodes, said: "The whole room was shaking. Woke us up. Horrible feeling and very scary."

Brits bed down on sun loungers after being evacuated from their hotel in Kos
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Brits bed down on sun loungers after being evacuated from their hotel in KosCredit: Twitter/tomo_perry86
The earthquake reportedly struck about 10 miles east of Kos
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The earthquake reportedly struck about 10 miles east of Kos
People try to move the cars from a flooded coastal road on the Greek island of Kos
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People try to move the cars from a flooded coastal road on the Greek island of KosCredit: AP:Associated Press

The Foreign Office tweeted urging Brits to follow the advice of local authorities or their tour operator.

A spokesman said: "We are speaking to the Turkish and Greek authorities following an earthquake off the coast of Bodrum and near the island of Kos.

"Any British people in the areas affected should follow the instructions of local authorities. "

A spokesman added it believed Brits were almost certainly among the injured.

The earthquake reportedly happened just 6.2 miles below the seabed.

Turkey is prone to earthquakes because it is located between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates.


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