A moderate to strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale was recorded on Friday evening off the coast of Zakynthos.
The tremor occurred at 7:24 p.m. to the south of the island that is located off the west coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea. According to the revised report from the Athens Geodynamic Institute, the epicenter was pinpointed 60 kilometers southwest of the Strofades islets. The earthquake had a focal depth of approximately 10.8 kilometers.
Earlier today, a minor earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale was recorded near the island of Kefalonia, also in the Ionian Sea. In recent days, several seismic events have also been recorded further north in the Ionian Sea, in an underwater area west of Zakynthos.
Speaking to public broadcaster ERT, the president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), Efthymios Lekkas, commented on the strong earthquake that struck near the Strofades, off the coast of Zakynthos, assuaging any concerns.
“It occurred in an underwater area, which gives us room for much stronger seismic activity without causing problems,” Lekkas noted, reassuring the public about the nature and location of the tremor.
