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live 6.2 magnitude quake struck Crete

12 October 2013 / 17:10:13  GRReporter
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A strong earthquake shook Crete shortly after 4 p.m. today. According to the Euro Mediterranean Geophysical Institute, its magnitude was 6.4 on the Richter scale and the epicentre was 77 kilometres west of the city of Chania. According to the Athens Observatory, the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.2 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located 39 kilometres southeast of the island of Antikithira. The two institutes informed that the depth to the epicentre was 30 and 27 km, respectively.

According to the correspondent of the Athens News Agency on Crete, the earthquake had a long duration and was felt even by drivers who were driving their cars at the time. The strongest quake was felt near Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion on Crete, but also in the Peloponnese, the Cycladic archipelago, Athens and even Egypt.

So far, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage. Many houses, shops and public buildings have broken windows. A large rock fell on a road near Terisos and blocked the traffic on it. Many people have left their houses and remained out on the streets of the island. Panic reigned in the first minutes after the earthquake, a correspondent of Ethnos newspaper informed.

Professor of geology Efthimios Lekkas said on Skai TV that today's quake is not related to the earthquake of a few days ago in the town of Ierapetra on Crete, since these are different seismic areas. For flashnews.gr, Head of Department of Seismology at the University of Crete Filippos Valianatos said that the area around the epicentre is known to scientists and is capable of earthquakes of such a magnitude. "We are not yet able to say whether this is the main quake. We have to monitor the seismologic activity in the next few hours, in order to be sure. It is logical to expect aftershocks," he admitted.

According to Director of the Geodetic Institute in Athens Gerasimos Papadopoulos, this was a major quake and aftershocks will not exceed the fifth degree on the Richter scale. "The worst has passed," he was categorical. Here you can read testimonies of eyewitnesses, published in English on the website of the Euro Mediterranean Geophysical Institute. 

To be continued.

Tags: earthquake Crete Athens Observatory Euro Mediterranean Geophysical Institute epicentre
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