A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Evia, Greece, on Monday, shaking parts of the country including Athens and interrupting the live debut of a popular current affairs program.
The tremor, recorded by the Geodynamic Institute, had its epicenter about five kilometers northwest of Nea Styra at a depth of 13.6 kilometers. It was also felt strongly in Tinos, Skyros, and Boeotia.
Cameras inside the studio of ‘Μεγάλης Εικόνας’ , which had just launched its fifth season, captured the moment of the quake as presenter Niki Lymberaki and her guests prepared to go live. Despite the disruption, the panel remained calm. “We were ready to go on air when the earthquake struck. It was recorded by colleagues, and you can sense the tension in those few seconds,” Lymberaki said on air as footage of the incident was broadcast.
The program quickly shifted to provide live updates, featuring seismologists and local officials. Efthymios Lekkas, head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, noted that while the area is not usually associated with large earthquakes, the tremor’s intensity and duration made it widely felt.
Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos added that smaller aftershocks should be expected.
Authorities reported no damage or injuries. Deputy regional governor of Evia Giorgos Kelaitidis confirmed that residents were safe, while local municipal teams carried out precautionary inspections in villages near the epicenter. The fire service also said it had received no calls about damage.
