A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Crete early Thursday morning, sparking alarm across the region. The tremor occurred at 6:19 a.m. and was felt as far as mainland Greece, Cyprus, and parts of the eastern Mediterranean.
According to the Athens National Observatory, the quake’s epicentre was located 56 kilometres north-northeast of Neapolis, in an undersea area. The quake occurred at a depth of 60.3 kilometres, a factor experts say helped limit surface damage despite its strength.
Fire services on the island remain on high alert, with patrols launched to assess the situation. Minor landslides were reported on provincial roads, and a section of an older building in Heraklion partially collapsed.
Authorities in Crete have placed regional and municipal services in a heightened state of readiness. Schools on the island remain open, with local officials assuring that safety inspections have been carried out and no structural damage was found in school buildings.
Sitia’s mayor, Giorgos Zervakis, described the quake as one of the strongest in recent memory for the region but expressed cautious optimism that no serious issues had emerged. Examinations are expected to proceed as scheduled.
Seismologist and president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP), Efthymis Lekkas, sought to reassure the public. He stated that due to the depth of the quake, it is unlikely to trigger significant aftershocks and does not appear to be a precursor to a larger event.
“This was a deep-focus quake, which helps disperse energy and reduces surface damage,” he explained. “Such earthquakes are typically isolated events with limited aftershock activity.”
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