Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck just to the north of the Aegean island of Samos.
"Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis in connection with the tragic consequences of the earthquake that hit the Aegean Sea and affected a number of Greek islands," the Kremlin said in a press release.
"The President of Russia asked to pass on words of sympathy and support to all Greek residents affected by this disaster and wished a speedy recovery to the regions hit by the quake," the statement concluded.
The powerful earthquake, measuring 6.6 to 6.7 on the Richer scale, caused widespread damage and death in Greece and Turkey.
Two school children were tragically killed in Samos while in Smyrni (Σμύρνη, Turkish: İzmir) there are at least 25 deaths and at least 804 injured.
The devastating earthquake also partially collapsed a church in Samos.
Meanwhile, illegal immigrants looted many shops and houses after the earthquake and follow up tsunami hit Samos, as reported by Greek City Times.