A powerful earthquake has struck the island of Kos in Greece, killing two people and injuring more than 200.
ABC News reports that the 6.5-magnitude quake collapsed a building onto tourists at a bar in Kos, killing two men from Turkey and Sweden. At least five more people were injured on Kos as tourists and local residents scrambled to evacuate buildings. The earthquake also damaged churches, a mosque, the port’s 14th century castle and old buildings in the town.
According to CNN, the earthquake was centered 10.1 miles east-northeast of Kos, in the sea between Greece and Turkey. Around 80 people were injured in Turkey, but there have been no reports of fatalities in that country.
The Washington Post reports that the European Union (EU) is offering emergency aid to Greece to help it deal with the aftermath of the earthquake. EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides offered condolences and said “the EU offers its full support” after the earthquake.
Cruise Calls
Kos is a port call on several Aegean Islands cruises. According to CruiseTimeTables.com, there are three calls scheduled in Kos over the next two months.
Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Nefeli is scheduled to call at the port on July 26, as part of its cruise from Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey, that departed July 22, and on August 2, as part of its cruise from Piraeus (Athens) that is scheduled to depart July 31.
Seabourn’s Seabourn Odyssey is scheduled to call at Kos August 11 as part of its cruise from La Valletta, Malta, that is scheduled to depart August 5.
Travel Agent has reached out to the cruise lines for any available updates on planned calls – stay tuned to www.travelagentcentral.com for further details.
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