Is it safe to travel to Greece? Latest advice following 5.9 earthquake
Greece is one of Europe's most popular summer holiday destinations, but its position on the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates means it is prone to seismic activity.
After Santorini experienced a flurry of tremors over several weeks back in February, another notable earthquake has just been recorded, this time from a different point in the Aegean Sea. No injuries have been reported yet, but it's worrying news if you have a trip booked to Greece. So, here is everything you need to know about travelling there right now.
Is it safe to travel to Greece?
In the early hours of this morning, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coasts of the Greek islands Crete, Kasos and Karpathos, but was felt as far away as Egypt.
Thankfully, no casualties nor severe property damage have been reported so far, but a temporary tsunami warning was put in place by authorities, who have since urged people to regularly monitor local news and remain vigilant, particularly those travelling to the east coast of Crete, Kasos or Karpathos.
Where was the earthquake?
The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported the epicentre of the earthquake was near the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, around 48 km southeast of the former, with a depth of around 35 km, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.
Has a tsunami warning been issued?
Yes, according to the Independent, Greek authorities issued a temporary tsunami warning in a statement on X, which read: 'A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of possible Tsunami in your area. Move away from the coast immediately. Follow the instructions of Local Authorities.'
Have flights to Greece been affected?
There are no reports of flights to and from Greece being affected, but if you have a flight booked in the next few days, check its status directly with your travel provider.
What is the UK Foreign Office saying?
The Foreign Office is yet to update its advice as a result of this tremor, but the safety and security page for travelling to Greece reads: 'The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025. This increase has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual.
There is a risk of earthquakes and earth tremors in Greece. You should:
familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake
follow advice given by the local authorities
call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger
For further guidance on how to prepare for earthquakes, please visit the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection (in English) and to see, for anywhere in Greece, where your nearest assembly points are located in case of emergency you can visit mysafetyplan.gov.gr (map with text in Greek).'
When was the last earthquake in the region?
Back in February, the Santorini-Amorgos zone experienced days where over 12,000 earthquakes were recorded. You can read our coverage on that here.
Crete is known as one of the continent's most common spots for experiencing tremors, and the most recent significant earthquake here was in October 2021, when a 6.3 magnitude quake struck the island.
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