Chania in the north of the Greek island of Crete is a popular destination for holidaymakers. An earthquake has now shaken the Mediterranean island. © Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa
On the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, which is popular with holidaymakers, an earthquake has caused an uproar.
Heraklion – An earthquake has shaken the Greek holiday island of Crete. The magnitude 5.1 quake occurred on Thursday evening (18 May) at around 22 p.m. local time (21 p.m. CEST) near the village of Tymbaki.
The earthquake was strongly felt on the Mediterranean island, as the center of the quake was only about nine kilometers below the surface. A day earlier, there had been an earthquake of magnitude 4.2, reports the Athens newspaper Kathimerini.
Earthquake in Greece: Earthquake felt in the north of Crete
Local media also reported that numerous residents ran onto the streets. However, according to initial information from the state broadcaster (ERT), there were no injuries. The earthquake was also felt in the tourist regions in the north of the island, the reports said. No damage has been registered, the mayor of Faistos, Grigoris Nikolidakis, told the website Cretalive.
Earthquakes of similar magnitude are far from rare in Crete and Greece. The country is located in a region where the African plate pushes the Eurasian plate northwards. (sne/dpa)