A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the island of Rhodes early on June 3, startling tourists and residents across southern Greece and western Turkey. The tremor, which struck around 2:17 am local time, was felt as far as the Aegean coast. According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake’s epicenter was 18 miles (29 km) north of Rhodes.
In Turkey, at least one person—a 14-year-old—died in the town of Fethiye, and dozens more were injured in Mugla while attempting to flee buildings in panic, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. Emergency teams were dispatched to assess the damage in several resort towns, including Marmaris, officials told NTV.
Tour operator TUI has issued travel advice for tourists in the affected region, urging caution and emphasizing the rarity but severity of such seismic events during the summer travel season. The incident has reignited broader questions about global seismic activity and its potential links to environmental changes.
Is the frequency of earthquakes increasing? Or are we now just a lot more aware of what's taking place in the wider world, thanks to increased communications and reporting? And if they have become more frequent, is climate change a contributing factor? Click on the following gallery for these answers and more.