Science
Greece Rocked By Massive Earthquake As Tsunami Warning Sparks Panic
Residents and visitors were advised to leave coastal regions immediately in case of a tsunami after a strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake off the Greek coast early this morning.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the earthquake struck 14 miles (23 kilometres) southeast of Fry at around 1:51 a.m. local time. It was raised to magnitude 6.0 after being measured at 5.9 at first.
The Greek Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection issued an alert via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, warning: “A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of possible tsunami in your area. Move away from the coast immediately. Follow the instructions of Local Authorities.”
A magnitude of 6.1 was measured at the epicentre, which was situated off the southern coast close to Crete. Several nearby islands, including Kasos and Karpathos, reported feeling tremors. As a precaution, authorities are telling residents to avoid the shoreline and look for higher ground.
No serious damage or injuries have been recorded as of yet. Amid worries about possible aftershocks, authorities are keeping a tight eye on the situation and emergency services are still on alert.
At around two in the morning this morning, Kentish couple Barry Rickhuss and Ashleigh were staying close to Stalis, Crete, when they got an automated tsunami alert.
He told The Mirror: “We went to reception of our hotel and there were many people there including panicked hotel staff who all advised to head up the hills.”
“We all left together, with hotel staff and German, Swedish, Dutch and Greek people and waited. We all are looking down on the town beneath and checking our phones. We are waiting for the all clear.”
With a lengthy history of large earthquakes, the Greek island of Crete and the surrounding area are among the most seismically active regions in Europe.
Only weeks after a fatal 5.8 magnitude earthquake in September that killed one person and injured at least a dozen more, a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake devastated Crete in October 2021. Many families were homeless and hundreds of homes were damaged in the communities close to Heraklion as a result of the September earthquake. Public buildings and schools suffered structural damage, and residents were forced to sleep outside due to apparent fissures out of concern for aftershocks.
Later that month, the area close to the island of Karpathos was rocked by another powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4. Although no casualties were reported, the quake was felt on a number of adjacent islands, such as Rhodes and Kasos, underscoring the area’s susceptibility to strong seismic activity.
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