Tourists told to flee coast as Greek earthquake sparks tsunami warning

Daily Mirror

22-05-2025

Tourists on the popular holiday island of Crete have been urgently warned to "move away from the coast" following a tsunami warning.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake was recorded on the island this morning as the Greek government has ordered everyone to "move away from the coast and reach a higher place" for their own safety.
No significant damage has been reported following the quake but authorities are fearful of more movement. Tremors have been felt as far as Turkey, Egypt and Israel today. The mayor of Agios Nikolaos, Manolis Menegakis, told Mega TV station: "We are vigilant."
Last week, a powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck in Greece, with the epicentre again near the coast of Crete, the most populous of theGreek islands.
Greece and the Aegean islands form of the most seismically areas in all of Europe - making it more likely to experience earthquakes.
This is because it lies at the boundary of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates.
It's also affected by the smaller Anatolian Plate, creating complex fault systems and frequent earthquakes.
Greece's many islands and mountainous terrain also amplify the impact of tectonic movements, making them more likely to be felt.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre says tsunami alerts have been issued while the risk is assessed.
"Depending on the distance of the earthquake from the coastline, the tsunami could be local (<100 km), regional (<1,000 km) or distant (>1,000 km)," they said in a statement.
The latest earthquake is the second to strike Greece in the space of just eight days.
Last week, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded near the island of Kasos, off the country's southern coast.
It was felt in Crete, the Aegean Islands, and reached as far as Israel and Egypt. No significant damage was reported.
Regional government official Giorgos Tsapakos told state-run television that 'there are no reports of injuries or any serious damage' following initial assessments of the affected areas.
The shock was felt extensively across islands throughout the Aegean Sea.
Earthquake and Planning Protection Organization director Efthymios Lekkas noted that deeper earthquakes typically cause less surface damage.
Greece sits on major fault lines and experiences frequent seismic activity.
The fire services of Crete have been put on general alert. Fire brigade vehicles are already on patrol to control the situation.
According to reports, small landslides on the provincial road network have been recorded as consequences of the earthquake, as well as small parts falling off a building in Heraklion, Crete.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook other southern Greek islands early this morning.
The epicentre, though, was in the sea 58 kilometres (36 miles) northeast of Elounda and Neapolis, which are on the northern coast of Crete. It was 69 kilometres (43 miles) deep, according to the US Geological Survey.
A Strong Preliminary Magnitude 6.3 earthquake recently struck near Crete, Greece, at a depth of 15 kmMultiple reports of strong shaking felt by residents.Increased seismic activity continues throughout the region #earthquake #Greece #Emsc #σεισμός #Crete #Santorini pic.twitter.com/cDPjoNHJLy
Following the tremors, authorities activated a tsunami evaluation for coastal Greece, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). Experts are currently assessing the risk, depending on the earthquake's proximity to coastal zones.
Already, emergency response protocols have been triggered, particularly for southern Crete and coastal regions.
There has, as yet, been no advice to discourage tourists from travelling to Crete though.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located 56 kilometers (34 miles) northeast of Neapolis, Lassithi, Crete. Its focal depth was estimated at 60 kilometers (37 miles).
The earthquake was felt as far as Israel and Egypt.
#Earthquake (#σεισμός) M3.1 occurred 76 km NE of #Irákleion (#Greece) 11 min ago (local time 06:34:25). More info at:https://t.co/QMSpuj6Z2Hhttps://t.co/k5DtZvhiOShttps://t.co/ggNEwnpwfj pic.twitter.com/TlhIxqYKj7
This is the second tsunami alert on Crete in approximately one week.
Last week, holidaymakers were again ordered to "move away from the coast immediately" following an earthquake. The left schools and public buildings with visible cracks, and residents were forced to sleep outdoors amid fears of further shocks.
The latest tsunami alert comes after a magnitude 6.1 quake.