A 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at 12:24 p.m. in the south-southeastern part of Crete, upsetting the local community once again.
According to the official information of the Geodynamic Institute, the earthquake occurred in a sea area 23 km east of Zakros, while the focal depth was 8.2 km.
According to the mayor of Sitia, George Zervakis, the strong earthquake caused damages. For instance, the town hall has shown cracks.
As a reminder, the island had experienced a strong 6 magnitude quake again on 27 September, centered in the village Arkalochori in Heraklion. The earthquake killed one man.
According to the president of the Earthquake Protection Organization, Efthymis Lekkas, today’s earthquake is not related to the major earthquake that occurred weeks ago in Arkalochori. The professor explained that it was a shallow earthquake, which was felt over a large area in Crete, the Dodecanese and the wider region. According to Mr Lekkas, the epicentre of today’s earthquake is 80 km away from that of the quake that occured in Arkalochori two weeks ago.
A small tsunami warning was also issued. “We have issued a tsunami notice but nothing to worry about. We are talking about 10 kilometers southeast of Zakros. The phenomenon is already occurring and may not even be discernible in some areas. The earthquake was weak enough to create a large tsunami. Apart from Crete, the entire southern Aegean has been shaken,” Lekkas said.
Τhe research director of the Geodynamic Institute, seismologist Gerasimos Houliaras said to protothema.gr: We will know whether this is the main earthquake in the next 24 hours
“It is a strong earthquake of 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale 23 kilometres southeast of the town of Zakros. It is a submarine earthquake, located in the wider area of the so-called Greek arc where the subduction zone of the African plate lies. Last year we also had an earthquake of about 6 magnitude on the Richter scale in the area. We are investigating the phenomenon, this is possibly the main earthquake but we will know in the next 24 hours,” says the director of research of the Geodynamic Institute seismologist Gerasimos Houliaras.
According to the president of the Earthquake Protection Organization, Efthymis Lekkas, today’s earthquake is not related to the major earthquake that occurred weeks ago in Arkalochori. The professor explained that it was a shallow earthquake, which was felt over a large area in Crete, the Dodecanese and the wider region. According to Mr Lekkas, the epicentre of today’s earthquake is 80 km away from that of the quake that occured in Arkalochori two weeks ago.
