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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Watch: CCTV shows moment quake hits Crete
How common are earthquakes in Greece?
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.
Last Wednesday, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred about 48 kilometres south-east of Kasos, or directly east of Crete.
Mayor of Arkalochori, the town at the epicentre of 2021 devastating earthquake, says tremor was ‘piece of cake’'
The mayor of Arkalochori in Crete — one of the worst-hit areas in the devastating 2021 earthquake – said that today’s 6.1 tremor was a “piece of cake” for the residents.
Vasilis Keggeroglou told Creta Post: “The earthquake had intensity but no acceleration and fortunately it had a large focal depth.”
He added: “This earthquake was a piece of cake for us.”
“There are no reports of problems that would lead to the closure of schools. We are continuing as normal,” Mr Keggeroglou said.
Arkalochori, a town in central Crete, was at the epicentre of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in September 2021, which left one person dead and caused widespread destruction.
Thousands were forced into temporary shelters after the infrastructure collapsed in the region. The community of Arkalochori also endured weeks of aftershocks.
Is a tsunami likely?
Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, said the earthquake’s location at sea and its significant depth have made a tsunami unlikely.
According to the Greek daily Ta Nea, Mr Lekkas explained that the earthquake occurred at a significant depth, making it less likely to cause severe surface damage.
He said the earthquake struck at the junction of the African and European tectonic plates.
Vasilis Karastathis, the director of the Geodynamic Institute, also told OPEN television: “We were expecting a revised solution to come out, it is 60 kilometres deep and does not pose a danger at such a depth and so many kilometres away from Lasithi and the coast.”
“There is no problem. We will also look at the aftershock sequence, but I do not think it will be intense. With these characteristics of the earthquake, we do not expect any aftershock sequence. There is no need to be concerned,” he said.
“When it is large, the depth opens up the distance, which is why it was felt in Attica and was quite large,” he added.
'These are earthquakes we must learn to live with'
Geologists have explained the science behind the impact of today’s earthquake.
Charalambos Fasoulas, a geologist from the Natural History Museum of Crete said these earthquakes “do not usually give many and large aftershocks.”
He wrote on social media: “Usually these earthquakes are "solitary" and have no other consequences on the upper crust.
“They are earthquakes with which both we and our buildings must learn to live."”
Is it safe to travel to Crete? What you need to know after earthquake sparks tsunami warning for Greek island
Is it safe to travel to Crete after earthquake and tsunami warning?
Watch: CCTV visuals as magnitude 6 earthquake hits Crete coast in Greece
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.
Residents heard a loud roar following the tremor
Residents of Crete described the moment the earthquake struck as both terrifying and surreal. According to Ethnos, the daily Greek newspaper, residents heard a loud roar followed the tremors, intensifying the sense of panic.
Many locals rushed outside, seeking safety as their homes rattled around them, the outlet reported.
Videos shared by local news outlet Creta Post captured the intensity of the quake – the ground visibly shaking, and that rumble echoing through the streets.
Despite the magnitude of the earthquake, there have been no major casualties.
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