A 5.1-MAGNITUDE earthquake has rattled Athens and surrounding areas.
The powerful quake struck just off the coast of Evia – Greece’s second-largest island – and was strongly felt in the capital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
AlamyAn earthquake rocked central Greece on Tuesday morning[/caption]
The quake measured 5.2 in magnitude and struck at a depth of just 2.3 kilometres, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.
It hit Evia – 31 miles northeast of Athens – just before 12.30am.
A smaller aftershock struck about 15 minutes later, registering 2.5 on the Richter scale.
Stergios Tsirkas, mayor of Marathonas – a town on the mainland coast opposite Evia – said the tremor “was very intense”, reports Kathimerini.
President of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthimis Lekkas, told Greek public broadcaster ERT: “This is an aseismic area. It is a fault that does not produce large earthquakes.”
He added: “At the moment we are evaluating all the data in order to have more certain information and estimates”.
Lekkas also said it’s likely there will be aftershocks overnight, ranging between magnitude 4 and 4.5 on the Richter scale.
“We have deployed vehicles to eastern Attica and southern Evia,” said Minister of Civil Protection Yiannis Kefalogiannis.
A shocking video shows ERT journalists live on air when they noticed the cameras shaking and felt the ground move beneath them.
They immediately reported: “A strong earthquake is currently underway and continues.”
There are no reports of damage or injuries so far.
Evia is Greece’s second-largest island – both in area and population.
Greece is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, rattled by around 25,000 quakes every year.
That’s because it sits along huge fault lines – like the Hellenic subduction zone – where the African tectonic plate is being pushed beneath the Aegean Sea plate.
GettyThe earthquake was also felt in Athens[/caption]
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Leave a comment
