Earthquakes in Turkey, Rhodes and Crete: What travelers need to know

An earthquake on the west coast of Turkey struck on Tuesday night, leaving people in fear and terror. The 5.8 magnitude quake struck at a depth of 68 kilometers near Marmaris, a Turkish coastal resort located just 29 kilometers from the popular Greek holiday island of Rhodes. Shortly after, another earthquake struck near Crete – this one with a magnitude of 5.3.

This is the second major earthquake in Turkey within weeks, following the severe earthquake in Istanbul that injured hundreds of people. In Greece, the earth tremor was the fifth since mid-May .

Surveillance camera videos show the earth beginning to shake in the middle of the night. Dozens of people in the Turkish town reportedly jumped out of windows in panic, injuring themselves. A 14-year-old girl was taken to the hospital with a panic attack and died there, reports the region's governor, Idris Akbiyik.

There was no visible damage to buildings in Marmaris or neighboring Rhodes, and no injuries were reported there either.

Although the earthquake was clearly felt, it was not cause for concern, seismologist Vassilis Karastathis of the Geodynamic Institute of Athens told the broadcaster Antenna. "Such earthquakes rarely cause damage or injuries, apart from the concern they trigger among the population," he explained. He is not concerned about aftershocks for the time being.

Also on Tuesday, another earthquake struck Greece around midday, this time southeast of the holiday island of Crete. According to the news channel ERTnews, citing the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the earth shook for several seconds.

No damage or injuries were initially reported on Crete, and unlike in Turkey, there was no panic among the people. The quake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of ten kilometers.

Turkey and Greece are among the most earthquake-prone holiday destinations in Europe . Between 1900 and 2021, 102 earthquakes were recorded. In Greece, Crete and other Aegean islands such as Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos, and Rhodes are particularly at risk. The Ionian Sea islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Lefkada are also regularly affected.

On the mainland, Athens and Thessaloniki are considered high-risk areas. Nevertheless, there have been few fatalities in recent years – thanks to significantly tightened building regulations since the 1980s. In Turkey, the situation is often different; in Istanbul alone, 1.5 million residential and commercial units are considered at risk from earthquakes.

If a disaster occurs at their vacation destination, package travelers have the right to cancel their trip and receive a partial refund, according to travel lawyer Paul Degott. The travel provider should contact those affected independently in such a case and assist with any problems.

Only services that have been used so far, such as the outbound flight and hotel stay, must be paid for. Additional costs for an earlier return trip will be split between the travelers and the tour operator. This also applies to repatriation and rescue operations.

If a natural disaster occurs at the holiday destination, package holidaymakers may cancel their trip and request a partial refund. The tour operator is obligated to inform those affected and provide assistance.

However, services already used—such as the outbound flight or hotel stay—must be paid for. Additional costs for an earlier return trip will be shared between the traveler and the tour operator, including repatriation costs.

Anyone planning to travel to the affected region in the near future should monitor current reports and consult with their travel provider. Earthquakes, like wildfires or severe weather, are considered "extraordinary circumstances."

A free cancellation may be possible for a package holiday – provided the earthquake directly affects the holiday destination or an evacuation is planned. However, mere concerns about aftershocks or a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office are not legally sufficient, explains Karolina Wojtal of the European Consumer Centre Germany: "A travel warning is a strong indication, but it is not absolutely binding for the tour operator."

In our WhatsApp channel, you'll find the best travel tips, unusual places, and affordable travel deals at a glance. If you want to receive our news immediately, simply activate the bell in the channel. You'll then be notified of new messages.

Anyone who booked flights and accommodation separately must hope for goodwill. Legally, there is no right to reimbursement in such cases – travel law only applies to package tours. For individual bookings, the risk lies with the traveler.

What do travelers need to know right now? You can find all the important vacation news at reisereporter , and the latest travel offers on our deals page .

travel reporter