Crete earthquake latest: Aftershocks continue after 6.1 quake with tourist sites still closed
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said there would be additional aftershocks through the day, ‘but they are all harmless’
Aftershocks have continued through the day after a powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred north-east of Crete on Thursday morning.
The powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Crete at 6.19am local time (3.19am GMT), according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
No injuries or major damage have been reported, but popular tourist spots the Samaria and Imbros gorges remained closed throughout Thursday as a precaution.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said on social media there would be some additional aftershocks through the day, “but they are all harmless”.
“Fortunately, the depth and distance from the island became a shield of protection again,” he said in a translation of his post.
The quake was felt across the Aegean Sea, reaching parts of Turkey and north Africa.
Shortly after the quake tourists were urged to “move away from the coast” after the tremors led to warnings of a possible tsunami in Greece and beyond - though the head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation said this was unlikely.
Crete is a seismological hotspot and while most quakes are mild, stronger ones – such as the deadly 2021 earthquake also centred near Crete – have caused damage in the past.
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Greek minister travelling to Crete to assess damage
Greece’s civil protection minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis is travelling to Crete to assess the damage from the earthquake.
"Fortunately, initial reports indicate that due to its significant depth, there has been no major damage," told reporters outside Athens before he travelled.
Rescue crews were sent to the island as a precaution, officials said.
Tourists walk past cordoned streets in Heraklion following the earthquake
Tourists were out and about in the Crete city of Heraklion following the earthquake on Thursday morning.
Parts of the road were cordoned off due to rubble, with several older buildings damaged.
According to a municipal announcement, the damage reported thus far has primarily affected buildings that were already dilapidated.
In pictures: Damage in Heraklion from Crete earthquake
Is it safe to travel to Crete?
In short, it should be.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently does not have any travel advice regarding Crete or Greece as a whole, meaning it should be safe to travel to the country and its islands.
There were some minor landslides, and some roads in Heraklion have been cordoned due to damage to some abandoned buildings, but no other major damage has occurred.
Greek media outlet Ta Nea also reported that the popular Samaria and Imbros gorges will remain closed today.
Thursday's earthquake the second strong quake to hit Greece recently
Thursday morning’s 6.1 magnitude quake off the coast of Crete is the second strong quake to hit Greece within days.
Last Wednesday, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred about 48 kilometres south-east of Kasos, or directly east of Crete.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos wrote on social media that the recent quakes showed that the lull in earthquake activity experienced around Greece since October 2021 appeared to be over, and experts would be studying the recent activity.
Earthquakes are historically common in Greece, which lies around the boundary of the Eurasian tectonic plate and the Agean Sea plate.
The most recent earthquake over a magnitude 6 was a 6.4 magnitude quake in Lasithi, Crete, in October 2021.
More than 30 aftershocks have been recorded
Following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake, more than 30 aftershocks have been recorded by the Greek Institute of Geodynamics.
The strongest aftershocks have measured 3.5 on the Richter scale.
Seismologists have told Greek media To Vima that they do not expect significant aftershocks.
Earlier, seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said the aftershocks would continue through Thursday, “but they are all harmless”.
University ceiling falls, museum exhibits shift in earthquake
Damage following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake has been largely minor, Greek authorities said.
At the University of Crete, images showed ceiling tiles collapsed in the computer department, Greek news outlet To Vima reported.
Staff from the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion said there were only small shifts within exhibits, of a couple of centimetres at most, with minimal damage to the building or its artefacts.
A couple of dilapidated buildings in Heraklion suffered some damage, with stone and plaster falling onto the street.
Everything we know about Greece earthquake and tsunami alert
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off northern Crete at 6.19am local time on Thursday.
The epicentre was 58km northeast of Elounda, at a depth of 69km.
More than 30 aftershocks have been recorded, the strongest being magnitude 3.5.
Authorities report no serious injuries or structural damage.
Some minor landslides and debris were noted, especially near Heraklion.
The quake was felt in Turkey, Israel, and Egypt. Its depth likely reduced surface impact.
A tsunami alert was triggered by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. No tsunami occured.
A 5.9 quake last week prompted a similar tsunami warning.
Crete is in a high seismic zone with deadly quakes in recent years.
No travel advisories were issued, but tourists were urged to stay alert and follow official instructions.
Could there be more earthquakes?
There have been multiple aftershocks since a magnitude 6.1 earthquake was felt in Crete on Thursday morning.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said that “they are all harmless”, but the quake is the second strong one to hit Greece within days.
Last Wednesday, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred about 48 kilometres south-east of Kasos, or directly east of Crete.
Mr Papadopoulos said that the recent quakes showed that the lull in earthquake activity experienced around Greece since October 2021 appeared to be over.
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