Govind Tekale
A powerful shake rattled the Greek islands early Wednesday morning, being felt as far away as Egypt and Israel. The ground trembled at 1:50 AM, strong enough to be noticed across the coastal towns near Crete.
Scientists measured the earthquake’s power between 5.9 and 6.3 – strong enough to shake buildings and rattle windows across the region. The shaking came from deep under the sea between two Greek islands, Kasos and Karpathos, just south of Crete.
Emergency warnings went out across the region. “Move away from the coast immediately,” read the message from Greece’s Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Officials worried that the sea-floor shake might create dangerous waves along the beach areas.
Greece’s top earthquake expert, Efthymios Lekkas, brought some good news. Since the earthquake happened very deep underground – about 35 to 83 kilometers down – he said people shouldn’t expect too many strong aftershocks.
So far, no one has been hurt, and buildings remain standing. The earthquake’s deep location helped prevent major damage on the surface, even though the shake itself was quite strong.
For the 624,000 people living on Crete, earth tremors are nothing new. Their islands sit right where two massive pieces of Earth’s crust meet and push against each other. This natural process means the ground often shakes in this part of the Mediterranean.
Similar Posts
Just four years ago, in October 2021, a similar-sized earthquake hit Crete. That one damaged hundreds of homes, forcing families to sleep outside because they feared their buildings might collapse during aftershocks. One person died, and several others were hurt.
Greek emergency teams know these risks well. When Wednesday’s earthquake struck, they quickly sent out warnings and started checking for any damage. Their quick response shows how prepared they’ve become for these natural events.
For tourists planning visits to Greek islands, travel remains safe. Officials haven’t issued any warnings against traveling to Greece or its islands. However, they remind visitors to pay attention to emergency instructions and follow local safety guidance.
The earthquake adds to recent challenges for the region. Last month, severe storms battered these same islands. Many areas are still fixing damage from last year’s wildfires. Yet the islands continue to face these natural challenges while maintaining their essential services and safety measures.
