An earthquake with a magnitude of more than six degrees struck the island of Crete in southern Greece today, with initial reports of material damage.
According to the US Geological Survey the quake had a 6.4 magnitude, while the Athens Observatory, quoted by the state-run Athens News Agency, gave it a 6.2 magnitude.
The centre of the quake, at 4:12 pm (1842 IST), was 22.5 miles (40 km) below the seabed and 43 miles (70 km) west of Chania on Crete, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Tremors were felt as far as the Greek capital Athens, some 180 miles (275 km) away, and across southern Greece, including the Peloponnese peninsula and the Cyclades cluster of islands, the Athens Geological Institute said.
“The quake took place in an area known for its seismic activity. It was strongly felt in Crete but also in the rest of Greece,” geology professor Efthymios Lekkas told Skai radio.
A local newspaper, Chaniotijka Nea, reports that a resident of Chania was injured, not seriously, when he panicked and jumped off a first-floor balcony, landing on a car. Local media reported anxious citizens in Chania and Iraklio, the island’s largest city east of Chania, rushing into the streets. Firefighters in Chania said there was no serious damage and no emergency calls.
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