14-05-2025
‘Move away from the coast immediately'- Irish holidaymakers issued Tsunami warning in popular European sun spot
A MAJOR Tsunami alert has been issued to holidaymakers in Greece – with tourists being told to "move away from the coast immediately".
It comes after a strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the holiday hotspot Crete and Rhodes in
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The quake was strongly felt in Crete and Rhodes
Credit: X / @ForecastGreece
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Authorities are advising both locals and holidaymakers of a 'potential tsunami risk'
Credit: X / @ariel_oseran
According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the quake with a depth of 62.5 kilometres was strongly felt in
The
President of Greece's Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthymios Lekkas, told Greece's public broadcaster that the main characteristic of this strong tremor is its "focal depth was at 60 kilometres".
He said: "This means the seismic waves reached Kasos and Karpathos significantly weakened - and even more so in Crete - resulting, according to initial data and the first accounts from residents, in no reported impacts so far, although of course we do not yet have a complete picture.
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"It was strongly felt across Crete, as well as in Rhodes, Kos and throughout the southeastern Aegean."
Shortly after the quake, people in Rhodes, Karapathos and Kasos were sent an emergency alert about "a potential tsunami risk", the broadcaster reported.
Authorities are advising both locals and holidaymakers of a "potential tsunami risk" in Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kasos.
They are being strongly advised to stay away from the coastline and to seek higher ground as a precaution.
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Greece's Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection took to
They said: "A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of a possible Tsunami in your area.
Watch moving moment herd of elephants form ring of protection around calves as 5.2-mag earthquake rocks world-famous zoo
"Move away from the coast immediately."
The epicentre of the earthquake was the tiny Aegean island of Kasos, according to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens.
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More than 624,000 people reside in Crete, with around a third of the island's population living in the capital, Heraklion.
'MOVE AWAY IMMEDIATELY'
The region lies in one of the most seismically active zones in Europe, where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
It's generally thought that any earthquake over 6.0 can cause damage if it hits a populated area.
Roughly 100 earthquakes with a magnitude between 6.1 and 6.9 are recorded each year worldwide, according to Michigan Tech University.
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It comes after the idyllic Greek island of Santorini was plunged into a state of emergency in February as a total of 7,700 tremors shook the isle in two weeks.
Around 7,700 earthquakes have shaken the Santorini-Amorgos seismic zone since January 26.
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The US Geological Survey recorded a lower quake at 6.1 magnitude
Credit: Getty
