The Greek island of Crete had already been shook by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake earlier today before the magnitude 5.6 quake struck
The earthquake struck this afternoon (
Image: Getty Images)
The Greek island of Crete has been rocked by a series of strong earthquakes as several tremors were recorded just off the shores.
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook the ground just before 9pm local time just 10km below the surface on Sunday, December 26, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) however said the quake hit magnitude 5.4.
The shallow quake followed another which had registered 5.2 on the Richter scale just hours before at 5.15pm.
Data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre shows that the Aegean island was also hit with smaller tremors measuring 3 on the Richter scale at 6pm.
No injuries or material damages have been reported so far, according to local news sites.
But shallow earthquakes are understood to feel much stronger as they are closer to the earth’s surface.
The island was rocked by another large quake only a few months ago, back in October, when a powerful 6.3 shake hit the south coast of Crete.
Authorities at the time said the ripples were felt as far as Turkey and Cyprus.
In September, one person died and several were injured when a 5.8 earthquake rippled through the island.
Located within a complex geological boundary zone in the eastern Mediterranean, Crete sits between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
The Aegean Sea Plate is moving southwestward with respect to the Eurasian Plate at about 30 mm (1 inch) per year while the African Plate is subducting northward, beneath the Aegean Sea Plate, at a rate of about 40 mm (1.6 inches) per year, the Greek Reporter wrote.
Read More
Read More
