Camilla Jessen
A powerful undersea quake struck near the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini early Wednesday.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Greece in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The epicenter is located in the sea, about 15 kilometers from the island of Kasos and approximately 100 kilometers from the coasts of Crete and Santorini, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake occurred at a depth of 78 kilometers at 01:51 local time (22:51 GMT Tuesday), the USGS reported.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but local authorities and emergency services are continuing to monitor the situation.
Seismologists continue to observe the area for aftershocks.
A Wake-Up Call in the Aegean
According to Digi24, the affected area lies in the southern Aegean Sea, a region known for its high seismic activity due to multiple geological fault lines in the southeastern Mediterranean.
Popular tourist destinations like Crete and Santorini, which lie within 100 kilometers of the epicenter, may have felt tremors, though no serious impact has yet been confirmed.
The Greek government has not issued a tsunami warning.
The island of Santorini, known for its iconic whitewashed buildings and volcanic history, experienced increased seismic activity earlier this year, with thousands of minor tremors in January and February prompting concern among residents and tourists.
Greece is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe.
While most quakes are mild, the region has experienced serious events in the past.
The most recent deadly earthquake occurred in October 2020, when a 7.0-magnitude quake struck near the island of Samos, killing two people in Greece and more than 100 in Izmir, Turkey.