An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale (initially estimated at 5.4) struck off the east coast of Crete shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, prompting local authorities to issue alerts to residents.
The tremor had an epicenter 14 kilometers east of the Lasithi regional unit with a focal depth of 10 kilometers and was reportedly felt across the entire island.
The island’s authorities sent out alert messages to the population via mobile phones as far as Chania, warning of a significant seismic event.
Seismologist Akis Tselentis commented on the earthquake through social media, noting it occurred in an area that has experienced several relatively small tremors over the past four years.
He posted, “I had noticed this because I spend my holidays right across from it. These quakes are due to activity in the upper section of the subducted tectonic plate. I believe this was the MAIN earthquake.”
He added that the seismic fault line has most likely exhausted its energy, pointing out that some aftershocks were expected. The professor cautioned beachgoers to keep their young children away from the shore due to the possibility of small tsunami waves.
