Four people have been killed and 120 injured after a major earthquake hit Turkey and Greece, destroying buildings and sparking a tsunami warning.

One of those who died had drowned, according to Turkey's disaster management authority.

The epicentre of the tremor of magnitude 7 was in the Aegean Sea some 11 miles (17 km) off the coast of Turkey's Izmir province, at a depth of 10 miles (16km).

The earthquake was felt across the region, including in Istanbul, the Greek islands and as far as the capital Athens.

Izmir's mayor Tunc Soyer said nearly 20 buildings had collapsed in the province.Advertisement

Footage from the area showed survivors being pulled from the rubble by rescuers.

Greek media said the residents of Samos and other islands fled their homes, while some rockfalls were reported.

A tsunami warning was issued, with residents told to stay away from the coastline.

Water rose above the dock in the main harbour and flooded the street.

Residents have also been told to stay away from buildings, as aftershocks continued to rattle the area.

Greek seismologist Efthymios Lekkas told state television: "It is an event that is evolving."