Latest news with #UKForeignOffice
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Is it safe to travel to Turkey now? Latest Foreign Office advice after earthquake kills one and injures 70
At least one person is dead after a huge earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked Turkey this morning. The natural disaster struck the popular resort town of Marmaris, shaking hotels and forcing people to be evacuated from their rooms as they waited for possible aftershocks. British tourists described the shock tremor as 'petrifying' and reported being thrown from their beds by the force of the quake. Following the quake, TUI sent an urgent alert to holidaymakers in the region, instructing them to remain calm and to follow the advice of local authorities. While the UK Foreign Office has yet to update their official guidance on travel to and from Turkey, they have issued general advice around earthquakes. The FCDO says if an earthquake strikes, you should immediately drop to the ground, cover your head and try to hold onto something stationary. If you are located near the ocean, the advice is to move to higher ground as soon as possible. Current advice says: 'The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025. This increase has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual.' In relation to Turkey, it continues: 'Many parts of Turkey regularly experience earthquakes and tremors. 'These can be high magnitude, cause damage to infrastructure, and pose a risk to life. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake which occurred in the Sea of Marmara in April 2025, was felt strongly in Istanbul. Be aware of the risk of aftershocks.' It adds: 'Follow advice from local authorities, tour operators and accommodation providers. See the US Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance about what to do, before, during and after an earthquake.' Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said the earthquake started in the Mediterranean Sea at 2.17am. It was so powerful that the shockwaves were felt in Greece, with people awoken from their sleep on the island of Rhodes and holidaymakers at some hotels also being told to evacuate. A 14-year-old girl died following a panic attack and some 70 people were hurt in the Mugla province as they rushed to find safety, including 'some who jumped from a height', Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X. 'The quake struck at 2:17 am (2317 GMT on Monday) some 10 kilometres (six miles) off the coast of Marmaris,' the AFAD disaster agency said. 'In Fethiye, a 14-year-old girl named Afranur Gunlu was taken to the hospital due to a panic attack but, unfortunately, despite all interventions, she passed away,' Yerlikaya said. Fethiyeh lies around 60 miles to the east of Marmaris. CCTV footage shows people inside a restaurant sprinting to get outside, with one man seen jumping over the wall Video footage of the moment the quake struck shows people running out of restaurants and hotels into the street. Residents and tourists rushed to get into the open air, with many seen gathering in parks and the streets in the early hours of the morning to avoid any falling debris. Of those injured, 14 were treated at the scene, eight were briefly treated then discharged and another 46 were being treated in hospital, he said. There were no initial reports of buildings destroyed in residential areas, Yerlikaya said. Many popular seaside resorts are located in Mugla province, including Marmaris, Bodrum and Fethiye, which welcomed 3.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, the Anatolu state news agency said. The earthquake was also 'broadly felt' in Greece's Dodecanese islands, the national quake protection authority chief Efthymios Lekkas told the news portal, saying some tourists in Rhodes had been forced to evacuate their hotels. But there were no reports of injuries, he said. Travel firm TUI advised tourists in the region to 'remain calm and follow any safety instructions provided by your accommodation or local officials.' A pair of cats were seen on camera leaping into the air as the powerful quake hit The quake was also felt in Egypt, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. The earthquake struck six miles away from the Marmaris at a depth of 42 miles, experts estimated. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 5 were initially anticipated in Turkey, though it appears the risk of these has passed. Greek seismologist Efthimios Lekkas told local outlet ERT News that the earthquake's depth - below the earth's crust - meant it could be felt across a wider area and was 'very intense' in Rhodes.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Two Scottish men dead after Malaga shooting
Two Scottish men have died following a shooting in southern Spain, reports suggest. The BBC has reported that a gunman opened fire outside Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Malaga on Saturday night. Advertisement A local government official told the broadcaster it is believed the two men are Scottish. The UK Foreign Office said it had not been contacted for consular assistance in relation to the incident but would offer assistance if asked. Ireland Two people shot dead at Irish bar in Costa del sol Read More A local newspaper said the attack took place at around 11pm, when a car pulled up outside the bar and masked man got out, before opening fire on the two as they stood outside the venue. The gunman then fled in the car, the report continued, with both men dying at the scene. Advertisement A popular Irish-themed bar with locals, Monaghans was playing the Champions League final on Saturday evening, shortly before the incident.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Freeze frame! David Lammy snaps an Arctic selfie on taxpayer-funded trip
David Lammy posed for selfies on Wednesday – as he took a trip to the Arctic. The Foreign Secretary was on a taxpayer-funded visit studying measures to counter Russia 's actions in the High North. Mr Lammy boarded a boat with Norway's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide to view a melting glacier in Svalbard. He is on a three-day tour to Norway and Iceland, where he will look at the threat Vladimir Putin 's vessels pose to cables and infrastructure on the seabed. The UK is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to detect hostile state activity in the region, in a joint scheme with Iceland. Mr Lammy said that the Arctic was becoming 'an increasingly important frontier for geopolitical competition and trade' as melting sea ice opens up shipping routes and the potential to exploit oil, gas and mineral resources. He added: 'This is a region where Russia's shadow fleet operates, threatening critical infrastructure like undersea cables to the UK and Europe, and helping fund Russia's aggressive activity. 'It's more important than ever that we work with our allies in the High North, like Norway and Iceland, to enhance our ability to patrol and protect these waters. 'That's why we have today announced new UK funding to work more closely with Iceland, using AI to bolster our ability to monitor and detect hostile state activity in the Arctic.' It comes after the Foreign Office said UK sanctions have hampered Putin's efforts to maintain his fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers operating in the Arctic. A floating repair dock destined for Russian service in the Arctic has been stranded in the Mediterranean after the tug boat meant to tow it was hit with sanctions earlier this month. The activities of the Russian navy's northern fleet of warships and the 'shadow fleet' of commercial vessels used to avoid sanctions on oil and gas exports are increasingly in the spotlight as the war in Ukraine drags on. Russia's icebreakers are seen as crucial assets to clear the routes used for the tankers of the 'shadow fleet' in the north. The sanctions imposed on the Vengery tug meant it was unable to tow a floating repair platform for the icebreakers from Istanbul to the Arctic. He is on a three-day tour to Norway and Iceland, and is pictured arriving at Ny-Alesund Research Station on the Norwegian island of Svalbard Meanwhile, the UK has committed £554,000 for the Alan Turing Institute, with Icelandic support, to explore how AI could improve monitoring capabilities and ability to detect possible hostile activity. During his visit this week, Mr Lammy became the first foreign secretary to travel to the Svalbard archipelago, deep inside the Arctic Circle, where British scientists are collaborating with counterparts from Norway and other nations to study the impact of climate change. The Foreign Office's global science tactical fund confirmed £400,000 to support UK scientific collaboration in the Arctic. In Iceland, Mr Lammy will visit Keflavik air base, where RAF jets have supported Nato air policing missions.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
British boy, four, dies after being pulled from Tenerife hotel swimming pool - as holidaymakers and staff desperately tried to save him
A British four-year-old boy has died after being pulled from a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife. The heart-breaking incident took place on Thursday afternoon in San Miguel de Abona, a popular holiday spot in the south of the island. Emergency services rushed to José Miguel Galván Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time following reports of a child in cardiac arrest. According to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, the child was rescued from the water by a lifeguard but was found to be unresponsive. Several hotel guests, including individuals who identified themselves as doctors, reportedly joined the rescue efforts in a desperate attempt to revive the child. It's understood that a nurse from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) provided CPR instructions over the phone while medics scrambled to locate a defibrillator, The Sun has reported. Two advanced life support ambulances and a medical helicopter were sent to the scene. However, despite the best efforts of paramedics, who carried out advanced resuscitation procedures, the child could not be saved. Telecinco stated: 'The child died after failing to recover from a cardiorespiratory arrest following a rescue from a hotel pool.' Local police supported emergency teams at the scene, and the Civil Guard has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Sun: 'We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in contact with the local authorities.' It comes after a a British woman died after plunging 60 feet from a scenic beauty spot in Majorca. The 39-year-old was rushed to hospital on Monday after falling from a lookout point in the Palma neighbourhood of El Jonquet, which overlooks the sea. Police and paramedics who responded to an emergency call stabilised her and she was transported to hospital, where she was admitted into an intensive care unit. The unnamed Briton died the same night at Palma's Son Espases Hospital, according to reports. Palma police have opened an investigation. Insiders close to the ongoing probe confirmed police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy and said the woman's death was not being treated as a crime. Detectives have spoken with witnesses who saw the woman fall. It was not immediately clear if she was on holiday in Majorca or lived locally.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Brit boy, 4, drowns in Tenerife hotel swimming pool despite lifeguards' desperate attempts to save him
A FOUR-year-old British boy has tragically died after being pulled from a hotel pool in Tenerife. The horror unfolded on Thursday afternoon in the resort town of San Miguel de Abona. 1 Emergency services raced to José Miguel Galván Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time after reports that a child had gone into cardiac arrest. According to Spanish outlet Telecinco, the boy was rescued from the pool by a lifeguard but was unresponsive. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in touch with the local authorities.' A nurse from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) gave CPR instructions over the phone while first responders searched for a defibrillator. Several hotel guests, including people who identified themselves as doctors, also rushed to help. Two advanced life support ambulances and a medical helicopter were sent to the scene. Medics performed advanced resuscitation manoeuvres but were unable to save the child. Telecinco reported: 'The child died after failing to recover from a cardiorespiratory arrest that required him to be rescued from a hotel pool.' Local police assisted emergency crews, and the Civil Guard is now carrying out the necessary procedures. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
