Holidaymakers caught up in deadly earthquake terror
TWO pals have spoken of the panic after a killer earthquake rocked their holiday hotel.
Natasha Brunt from Hinckley and Shelley Lloyd from Earl Shilton were on the last night of a week-long trip to Turkey when the quake struck on Friday
Staying at the Green Nature Diamond resort in Marmaris the pair, both mums-of-three, were in their room asleep when the shockwave hit.
The 6.7 magnitude tremor originated in the Aegean Sea around seven miles north-east of Kos near the Turkish coast.
The Greek island and popular holidaymaker destinations in Turkey were all rocked with two people killed by falling debris in Kos itself as well as hundreds injured there and in Bodrum.
Thankfully there were no injuries reported at Natasha and Shelley’s hotel.
Shelley, aged 34, who works in pharmaceutical distribution, is a regular visitor to Turkey and had gone away with 35-year-old nurse Natasha for an early summer break.
She said: “We were both in our room sleeping as it was early hours here.
“I woke at around 1.25am having received a text.
“Suddenly I felt like I was out at sea with what felt like my whole bed moving.
“This then got more violent, shaking to the point panic kicked in as the whole hotel was moving.
“All sorts had ran through my mind - including this is the end.
“The rumbling sound was very loud which is what woke Natasha.
“We both lay there not knowing what to do for the best but by this point had realised it was an earthquake.
“We stupidly went out on the balcony where a lot of other people were looking very confused.
“We then decided to wrap ourselves in our bed sheets and go in to the hotel corridors where everyone was leaving their rooms in a panic - it seemed like everyone knew it was best to get out.”
Despite the chaos Shelley and Natasha were practically-minded enough to grab their passports and flight tickets, knowing they could get home to their children should the worse happen to the hotel building.
Once outside they saw police and ambulances racing up the roads and crowds of confused tourists and staff.
Initially the friends and other guests were asked to go to the beach, then they were moved and gathered around the pool before staff gave the all clear for them to go back into the hotel.
Shelley said: “Some people stayed round the pool all night where they clearly felt safer.
“For us I don’t think it really kicked in until (later) as it all happened so quick.
“However, we could tell it had definitely put us on edge as after entering back to our room we were quite jumpy about any sound or bang.
“I’d even text my mum to tell her should the worst happen I love them all so much.
“All sorts goes through your mind when fear kicks in I guess.”
The pair were left the resort on Friday to fly back home as the clean up operation began in Greece and Turkey.
Despite the experience - and last year being disturbed by the Turkish coup - Shelley is determined to return to the place she regards as a ‘second home’.
Another woman who works at Hinckley’s Holiday Lounge was in Kos town when the quake struck.
The holiday rep was on the Greek island with her two-year old daughter.
She contacted her employer afterwards to say both were safe.
Paul Moss, manager of the holiday store said: “Our colleague contacted us to say that they were safe. Her little girl slept through it all.
“There was a bit of shock. They were told not to go into Kos town itself, there was a mini tsunami, there had been some minor flooding. Generally everything was OK.
“There had been some rumbling and trembling but everybody remained quite calm.”
While the airport and port were closed for a few hours Mr Moss added that anyone who is going to Kos is not expected to experience any difficulties.