ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Turkey’s southwestern Marmaris area was rocked by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with one teenage girl dying and dozens more being wounded.

The earthquake struck ten kilometers off the coast of Marmaris, a coastal city popular with tourists, at 2:17 AM local time.

Mugla Governor Idris Akbiyik stated that 69 people were affected by the earthquake, with most injuries coming as residents tried to flee, including some who jumped from heights in an endeavor to escape buildings.

"A total of 55 citizens have been admitted to hospitals — 10 by ambulance and 45 on foot. Fourteen citizens refused to be transferred and were treated on site,” Akbiyik said. “One patient was hospitalized, 46 are undergoing treatment in the emergency room, and eight have been discharged."

14-year-old Afranur Gunlu from the Fethiye district—around 100km east of Marmaris— suffered a panic attack during the earthquake, being rushed to hospital where she subsequently passed away, according to the governor.

Turkish state media reports that initial assessments have found little structural damage in the city, with two buildings having experienced minor cracks due to the quake.

Mugla province, which includes Marmaris, Bodrum, and Fethiye, received over 3.7 million tourists in 2024.

Located near tectonic fault planes, Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes, with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the country’s south in 2023 killing 53,000 people in the country.